In Region 7 Cebu City has best SWAT group

CEBU, Philippines - The Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) of the Cebu City Police Office bested five other SWAT teams from different police headquarters in Central Visayas in the three-day 2nd Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 Inter-SWAT Competition.

The CCPO’s second team excelled in speed and accuracy tests administered in three stages with three scenarios. The team from CCPO also won last year.

 The team from the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) was first runner-up while CCPO’s first team ranked third. Meanwhile, the team from the Lapu-Lapu City Police (LCPO) was named Best Equipped unit while the team from the Bohol Provincial Police Office was named Most Organized team is the.

All teams underwent three stages, which included counter- ambush drill, night assault, and bus assault.

Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 Director Marcelo Garbo Jr., said the yearly competition is supposed to be conducted either in the third or fourth quarter of the year, but the regional headquarters decided to hold it earlier this year in preparation for the May election.

“Timing lang ito for the 2013 election… in case of scenarios or contingencies, the SWAT can respond easily (The timing is right because the SWAT team can easily respond to possible contingencies in line with the elections),” Garbo said.

The competition aims to hone the much-needed skills of SWAT members, the response unit of the PNP.

“As fighting unit of the PRO-7, they are called in case of eventuality when the police need them,” Garbo said.

Garbo is expected to leave PRO-7 after the May polls, but assured the competition will continue and will be conducted yearly. — (FREEMAN)