A total of 64 police and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) personnel stationed in Bohol graduated from the two-month Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) training held in the province.
The graduates were given honor in a ceremony led by Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 deputy director Chief Supt. Franklyn Mabanag on Tuesday at Camp Dagohoy in Tagbilaran City.
Mabanag lauded Bohol for its efforts to boost its anti-crime drive and improve its security forces’ capacity to respond to law enforcement emergencies by forming the special forces team.
The new Bohol SWAT force is comprised of a composite team of 46 policemen and 18 AFP personnel.
During the ceremony, the new SWAT team went through an exercise course to exhibit their capabilities before police and AFP officials.
Present during the graduation rites were Provincial Administrator Ae Damalerio who represented Gov. Edgar Chatto, Col. Arnulfo Mataguihan, commander of the 302nd Brigade, LTC. Jose Dodgie Belloga Jr. and Sr. Supt. Renato Dugan, PRO 7 operations chief.
The SWAT course for the Bohol security forces personnel which started late in November included grueling physical and skills exercises such as rappelling, rifle-firing, close-quarter combat and first aid.
Previously, Senior Insp. Manuel Soliva, corps director of the PNP’s 6th Special Action Force Battalion, said the three SWAT trainees dropped out of the course due to physical complications.
Soliva said that trainees woke up at 4 a.m. and rested at 10 p.m. for most of the training days. (Weli Maestrado)