Police commandos tapped in anti-kidnap operations

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) is sending Special Action Force (SAF) commandos to Central Mindanao to help the reactivated police-military Task Force Ranao in its anti-kidnapping operations.

PNP chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome said SAF will be part of the the police component along with the Regional Public Safety Battalions of Police Regional Office 12 and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Bartolome said police intelligence operatives from the Police Anti-Crime and Emergency Response and the Intelligence Group will also be deployed in the area.

Bartolome expressed confidence the reactivated police-military anti-kidnapping task force will wage a sustained law enforcement campaign to establish order and the rule of law in central Mindanao.

“The reactivation of joint PNP-AFP Task Force Ranao in Central Mindanao manifests the strong-willed response of the national leadership to harness the combined might of the PNP and AFP into a formidable force that will lock horns with criminal syndicates, armed groups and threat organizations behind the rash of kidnapping incidents in Cotabato City and other provinces of Central Minda­nao,” he said.

President Aquino ordered the reactivation of Task Force Ranao last May. Chief Superintendent Francisco Cristobal, Deputy Director for Integrated Police Operations in Western Mindanao was named Task Force commander with Col. Daniel Lucero, Commander of the Army’s 104th Brigade as his deputy.