More elite Special Action Force troopers of the Philippine National Police arrived Tuesday night in the Western Visayas, to join the peacekeeping operations of the Philippine Army.

However, the 602nd SAF Company composed of five police-commissioned officers and 65 police non-commissioned officers, will not join their colleagues in northern Negros, but in Dau, Capiz, police records show. The 601st SAF Company, that arrived in Negros July, is now stationed in Sagay City.

Two more SAF companies will soon join their colleagues in Negros and Panay, a senior police official, who requested not to be identified, said yesterday.

The SAF, a national mobile unit of the PNP, is trained in domestic counter-terrorism, law enforcement and commando-type unconventional warfare.

Chief Supt. Cipriano Querol, the new SAF director, said that although there is a steady decline in the armed strength of the rebels in the Western Visayas, the New People’s Army is still capable of disturbing the peace in the region, through the liquidation of soldiers and civilians, and the harassment of isolated military and police outposts.

Supt. Mario Baquiran, 6th SAF Battalion commander, supervises the two SAF companies being deployed in northern Negros and Capiz. *GPB

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