PNP to deploy troops to Basilan

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police will deploy troops from the Special Action Force to Basilan province to assist recovery efforts of the public school teachers who were kidnapped by bandits.

The troops will leave SAF headquarters after the formal send-off ceremony today at SAF Brigade Headquarters to be presided over by PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa.

SAF director Chief Superintendent Leocadio Santiago said the Basilan contingent will be headed by Superintendent Nestor Salcedo, commanding officer of the First Special Action battalion, with 12 police commissioned officers and 213 police non-commissioned officers on his detail.

Santiago said the movement will be the second wave of deployment of SAF operatives to the ARMM island provinces after the first batch of troops was deployed to Sulu last month to augment the existing Task Force International Committee of the Red Cross which concerns for the release of Abu Sayyaf kidnapped victim Eugenio Vagni.

So far, a total of one company of SAF has been sent to Mindanao to help in the peacekeeping efforts in the region.

The Basilan contingent will be composed of regular personnel and the class of Commando 51 who will eventually undergo the test mission as final phase to complete the said course.

After the send-off ceremony, the Basilan contingent will immediately proceed to Manila South Harbor for their new place of deployment.

Police and military troops are expected to launch an aggressive campaign against the Abu Sayyaf bandits in Basilan as the bandits no longer have hostages.

The bandits earlier released a Sri Lankan peace advocate and three Zamboanga City teachers. They have been using their captives as leverage to prevent government forces from pushing for an all-out offensive against them, according to Salcedo.