Soldiers need to undergo formal training in conducting anti-illegal drug operations if they will be deployed to support Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) personnel in going after drug suspects.
This was bared by Lt. Col. Dodjie Belloga, commander of the Army’s 47th Infantry Battalion (IB), after military forces nationwide were tasked to support the PDEA in carrying out its anti-drug drive.
According to Belloga, soldiers are mostly trained for combat in woodlands and have been through different training compared with law enforcement personnel such as policemen.
He said that they are willing to undergo such training if this will be provided by the government as the battalion does not have enough funds to carry out such exercise themselves.
Meanwhile, 17 soldiers are currently undergoing Special Weapons and Tactics training in Bohol along with 50 policemen who will comprise the province’s new SWAT team.
The SWAT training is expected to be completed by the end of February or early next month. (Rey Tutas)