PRO-7 to have regional SWAT

CEBU, Philippines - The Police Regional Office-7 will have its own Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team.

PRO-7 director Chief Superintendent Noli Taliño also announced the merger of two of its operating units.

He said the Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) and the Region Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group (RAIDSOTG) will now be one unit.

"Yong RSOG natin, actually RSOG-RAID muna yon, joint unit so nag fill-up na sila ng personnel pero we will specialize one team parang SWAT nila, special unit for special operation, SWAT ng RSOG," Taliño said.

He said while personnel to compose the SWAT team are training, the regional headquarters will temporarily utilize the SWAT team of the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB)-7.

The RSOG-RAID will be composed of 25 personnel after the 65 personnel of RSOG and RAIDSOTG were relieved effective July 11. Some of them were reassigned outside Central Visayas while others were directed to undertake the "Balik-Eskwela" program.

RSOG-RAID is now headed by Superintendent Joel Quintero.

Taliño explained that having its own SWAT will make the regional operations group an enhanced capability.

"Kailangan sa RSOG-RAID kasi kung mayroon silang sariling operation at halimbawa medyo notorious yung subject kailangan natin ng special team para pumasok dito. Although we can utilize SWAT ng Cebu City pero mayroon silang sariling operation din so we might as well develop a one SWAT team sa RSOG-RAID para anytime kailangan nila makapag-operate sila," he said.

 Taliño said the RSOG-RAID will focus on high-value targets just like the Philippine Drug and Enforcement Agency and RPSB.

 The new personnel composing RSOG-RAID came from different units like Provincial Intelligence Division, Special Action Force, RPSB, and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG). (FREEMAN)