Bohol's SWAT gets new equipment

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines - Governor Edgar Chatto recently turned over additional equipment to the Special Weapons and Tactic (SWAT) team of the Bohol Police Provincial Office (BPPO) to boost the latter's capability.

Among the equipment that the governor turned over to Bohol Provincial Police Office director Constantino Barot Jr. were 11 pieces of 5.56-caliber M4, three bullet-proof vests, four bullet-proof helmets, two bullet-proof shields, a tactical ladder, a battering ram, and a black hawk dynamic entry backpack.

Chatto also assigned a vehicle to the BPPO to improve mobility of the police personnel.

Barot said the SWAT team is always ready to respond to crisis situations in different areas of Bohol, which is the second province to form a SWAT team in 2008, next to Cebu, following the insistence of provincial officials, civil society leaders and the bankers association.

Bohol's SWAT was also trained in basic life support, and search and rescue operations, and has been the recipient of Chatto's financial assistance during his time as 1st district representative.

The Bohol Bankers Association had donated earlier to the SWAT a van that could be used in police operations. The Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Confederation of Boholanos in the USA and Canada (Conbusac) also donated funds to the team.