SAF commandos deployed to Lanao del Sur

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Four companies of the police Special Action Force (SAF) were deployed to Lanao del Sur on Monday.

Brig. Gen. Allan Nobleza, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao police director, led the sendoff ceremony at Camp SK Pendatun in Parang, Maguindanao del Norte.

The SAF commandos, who are composed of members of the 41st, 43rd, 44th and 45th Special Action Companies Special Action Battalion, were deployed to Marawi as well as Malabang, Masiu and Marantao towns.

”There are gaps in terms of security in Lanao del Sur, that is why we need to fill in,” Nobleza said in a statement issued yesterday.

He expressed hope that security in the province would improve with the presence of the police unit.

Nobleza urged the SAF commandos to do their best to protect villagers from clan wars and local terrorists.

The provincial peace and order council helped settle 13 clan wars in 2023. It also secured the surrender of 86 members of the Dawlah Islamiya terrorist group.