Quezon Police Provincial Office head Senior Supt. Rhoderick Armamento congratulates one of the 54 new graduates of the Special Weapons an...
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| Quezon Police Provincial Office head Senior Supt. Rhoderick Armamento congratulates one of the 54 new graduates of the Special Weapons and Tactics Class 2017 – Mabagsik at the SOLCOM Grandstand in Camp Nakar, Lucena City. Looking on are Candelaria Mayor Macario Boongaling (right, seated), SOLCOM deputy commander Brig. Gen. Ernesto Ravina (partly hidden, standing in khaki uniform) and provincial government administrator Romeo Edaño (in white, standing) (JOHN A. BELLO) |
by John A. Bello
CAMP NAKAR, LUCENA CITY - The Quezon Police Provincial Office (QPPO) is gearing up and enhancing its capability in responding to critical incidents like hostage-taking, bombing, bank robbery and other forms of terroristic activities in the whole province.
QPPO acting provincial director police Senior Supt. Rhoderick Armamento has given the assurance during the closing ceremonies of the 54 men who graduated from the 3 months specialized training of the Police Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), a crack team considered highly equipped and prepared to perform high risk operation such as hostage rescue, bank assault, high-risk surveillance, counter-terrorism and other forms of high crimes.
“Criminals are levelling up in their criminal activities so we also act accordingly and seek to enhance police capability through continuously equipping and upgrading our skills and capabilities against all forms of criminalities in our province, especially against terroristic attacks in the light of the Marawi incident,” Armamento told the local media after the graduation on Thursday of SWAT Class 2017-Mabagsik team held at the grandstand of Camp Guillermo Nakar here.
Twenty seven of the 54 newly minted SWAT personnel come from QPPO and the rest come from the police provincial offices of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas and Rizal.
Armamento thanked Gov. David ‘Jayjay’ Suarez for assistance in enhancing police capability in responding against various crimes in the province and cited the recent donation by the provincial government of a SWAT van, 4 high-end motorcycles, various service weapons and equipment to the QPPO.
Police Supt. Von June Nuyda, SWAT course director, made the presentation of the 54 candidates for graduation which was attended by the armed forces Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM) deputy commander Brig. Gen. Ernesto Ravina, provincial government administrator Rommel Edaño who represented Gov. Suarez, deputy police director Senior Supt. Laudemer Llaneta, police Chief Inspt.Ludivico Cordova of the Regional Service Training Unit, Candelaria Mayor Macario Boongaling, other QPPO and SOLCOM officers and personnel and the families and friends of the SWAT graduates.
Edaño hailed the interventions made by QPPO headed by Armamento which enabled the province to have better peace and order condition and led to the provincial government being awarded with “Destination of the Year” by the Dept. of Tourism for having more tourist arrivals last year.
He also cited the lessons to be learned from the Marawi siege which called for the police to upgrade and modernize to deal with the spread of urban terrorism anywhere.
Police Officer 3 Rommel Ignacio who is among the 3 SWAT trainees from Tayabas city police station who made it to graduation, said they started their 3 months highly specialized training last Oct. 11. He said instructors and trainors from the Regional Service Training Unit and Light Reaction Unit trained them on rifle marksmanship, rappelling, building entry and on how to respond in various critical situations involving targeted criminals.
A SWAT team was also activated in Candelaria to deter commission of high crimes and its mayor, Macario Boongaling, helped to realize its establishment in his municipality thru donation of motorcycles and various equipment for use in anti-crime operations.
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