PNP's elite units join forces to deal with emergencies

MANILA, Philippines - Three Philippine National Police (PNP) elite units have joined forces to deal with any emergency situation that requires the conduct of law enforcement and disaster operations.

Dubbed the Crisis Action Force (CAF), the 164-strong police composite crisis force is composed of elements from the PNP Special Action Force (SAF), the PNP Aviation Group and the PNP Maritime Group – all police strike forces proficient in land, air and sea law enforcement operations.

“The PNP has established the interoperability of crisis responders in handling man-made and natural emergencies,” PNP chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome said, after personally evaluating CAF’s capabilities during a simulated exercise held in Batangas City Friday.

The combined police elite units have been conducting joint exercises in Batangas City since last Wednesday to hone their capabilities in addressing emergency situations.

The first exercise of CAF was held in August last year and the PNP is planning to make this an annual event with the support of local and foreign crisis experts.

Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz, PNP spokesman, said the exercise is designed to test the capability of PNP crisis responders in handling police emergency situations, such as terrorist-related incidents, hostage-taking, natural disasters and man-made emergencies.

The CAF was created following the PNP’s Quirino Grandstand hostage-taking fiasco, wherein eight Hong Kong tourists were killed by a rogue police officer during a botched hostage rescue attempt in 2010.

“The Batangas City evaluation exercises involved simulated exercises of hypothetical police emergency situations at sea, air and land environment and were effectively addressed and contained by our CAF emergency team,” Cruz said.