667 police recruits join SAF after completing commando training

Around 667 police recruits will be joining the Philippine National Police's (PNP) elite Special Action Force (SAF) after they completed their commando course training, according to a report by Chino Gaston on Balitanghali on Friday.

More than 550 recruits, meanwhile, started their commando course training at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig.

The SAF, considered as one of PNP's specialized units, usually helps the military in enforcing security operations in conflict-ridden areas, including those in Mindanao.

PNP Chief of the Directorial Staff Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar, a former SAF member, was the guest of honor during the graduation ceremony.

Under the Duterte administration, all police recruits have to undergo a modified version of the basic training of SAF to measure the determination of the police recruit.

The mandatory SAF training was implemented during the term of former PNP chief Ronald "Bato" Dela  Rosa, who is now a senator, as part of his internal cleansing campaign.

In his speech, Eleazar lauded the SAF for their contribution to the image of the police force and their mission.

However, according to Eleazar, the police force as well as the SAF recruitment process should be somewhat modified as he could not deny that the former recruitment system still included patronage.   —Joahna Lei Casilao/KBK, GMA News