Special Action Force

Special Action Force

Special Action Force Official Insignia
Active May 16, 1983 - Present
Country Philippines Philippines
Allegiance Philippines Republic of the Philippines
Branch
Type Special Forces
Role Domestic Counter-Terrorism and Law Enforcement, Raids, Commando-type Unconventional Warfare
Size Classified
Part of Philippine National Police
Garrison/HQ (Main) - Fort Sto. Domingo, Sta. Rosa, Laguna
(Camp) - Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig, Metro Manila
Nickname(s) SAF, Tagaligtas (Saviors)
Motto(s) "By skill and virtue, we triumph"[1]
Colors   Black berets - SAF beret
Anniversaries 16 May
Engagements

Anti-guerrilla and terrorist operations against:

Decorations
Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation Badge
Commanders
Current
commander
Police Director Moro Virgilio Lazo
Notable
commanders
See Commanders Section
Insignia
PNP SAF Badge

The Special Action Force is the National Mobile Unit of the Philippine National Police founded by Fidel V. Ramos. It is formed along the lines of the British Army (SAS) Special Air Service, but with different recruitment and selection procedures.[2][3] The SAF, over the years, has received training from the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) and Critical Incident Response Group, RAID and YAMAM.[2][3] The Anti-Terrorist Unit (ATU) of the PNP-SAF is responsible for nationwide Police Counter-terrorism (CT) operations nationwide.

Members or Police trainees who undergo SAF training undergo several special military combat related training such as Explosives and Ordnance Disposal (EOD), Basic Airborne Course training, Urban Counter Revolutionary Warfare (SURESHOCK), SCUBA-BUSROC (Basic Under-Water Search and Rescue Operations Course) and Unconventional Warfare (COMMANDO course).[4][5][6]

SAF members who are distributed either regionally or within Metro Manila are furthermore assigned to SRU or SWAT training units and PNP SCOUT training units. SAF operators are trained at their camp at Fort Sto. Domingo[7] with its Air Unit stationed at the PNP Hangar in Pasay City.[1]

The SAF has an official magazine known as "Tagaligtas".[8]

History

Created on May 12, 1983 by the former Philippine Constabulary as the Philippine Constabulary Special Action Force[9] as a requirement of General Order 323 of Philippine Constabulary Headquarters, Fidel Ramos and Renato de Villa were the founders of the unit. De Villa asked Col. Rosendo Ferrer and Gen. Sonny Razon to organize a Special Action Force.[10] After which, a training program called the SAF Ranger Course, was used to train the 1st generation of SAF operators, which had a number of 149 operatives.[11] Out of them, 26 were known commissioned officers with the others being enlisted personnel from a wide range of PC units such as the defunct PC Brigade, the Long Range Patrol Battalion (LRP), the K-9 Support Company, PC Special Organized Group, the Light Reaction Unit (LRU) of PC METROCOM, the Constabulary Off-shore Action Command (COSAC) and other PC Units.[11] Later on, they changed the name of the course to the SAF Commando Course.[11]

Initially formed to battle against NPA and former MNLF guerillas in the late 1980s and early 1990s, their tasks have been expanded to battle against organized criminal groups, terrorists, guerrillas and common criminals.

During the days of the EDSA Revolution, Fidel Ramos was involved in planning an operation called "Exercise Ligtas Isla" (Exercise Save Island) in case either Imelda Marcos or Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Fabian Ver would take over ruling from Ferdinand Marcos, who had been ill during the last few days of the Revolution.[11] When Corazon Aquino became president, the SAF was mandated to be on standby due to the number of coup attempts by rogue Philippine soldiers.[12]

In January 29, 1991, President Aquino signed Republic Act 6975 into law, which changed the name of the SAF from the PC-SAF to the PNP-SAF as a part of transition of government.[12]

Following recent changes, the SAF will move to a permanent camp at Barangay Pinugay, Baras, Rizal under Proclamation No. 1355 passed on August 2007[13] from their camp in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig.[14]

For the first time, SAF operators are involved in the Balikatan exercises in 2009 since American and Filipino troops are usually involved.[15]

On July 20, 2016, a battalion of SAF men taking over the duties to manned the New Bilibid Prison, particularly in the Maximum Security Compound where the bigtime drug lords currently in prison. They will took over the job, formerly for the guards deployed by the Bureau of Corrections.

SAF's Known operations

SAF operators on protection duty at a medical outreach program in 2010 in Lamitan, Philippines.

1994 - PSupt Samson Tucay, Commander of the Special Operations Battalion (SOB) sent the Light Armor Coy ("Bubuyog" LAC) led by PInsp Bernardo Rosario (Cav) and PInsp Ramil Montilla (Cav) to Zamboanga and Basilan to provide fire support to SAF units under the Mindanao Police Task Force (MPTF).

Structure

As of 2013, the SAF's command structure consist of the following:[12]

Functions

As designated by the Philippine National Police, the missions of the Special Action Force are the following:[11][30]

Equipment

Pistols

Picture Model Origin Type Caliber Version Notes
Glock 17  Austria Semi-Automatic Pistol 9×19mm Parabellum Gen 4 Standard-issue pistol of the Philippine National Police since 2013.[31][32]
Beretta 92  Italy Semi-Automatic Pistol 9×19mm Parabellum 92F Standard-issue pistol of the Philippine National Police.
M1911 pistol[33]  United States /
 Philippines
Semi-Automatic Pistol .45 ACP M1911 Former standard-issue pistol of the Philippine National Police, sourced from US EDA and new Philippine-made units.[33] US-made variants mostly handed-over from the Philippine Constabulary and Integrated National Police.

Submachine Guns

Picture Model Origin Type Caliber Version Notes
KRISS Vector  United States Submachine gun 9×19mm Parabellum Vector SMG 9mm PNP to acquire 743 units, several for issue to PNP-SAF.[34]
FERFRANS SCW  United States Submachine gun 5.56×45mm SCW 7 Previously known as PDW.
Heckler & Koch UMP  Germany Submachine gun 9×19mm Parabellum
.45 ACP
UMP-9
UMP-45
[34]
FN P90  Belgium Submachine gun FN 5.7×28mm P90 Acquired in limited numbers.[35]
Heckler & Koch MP5  Germany /
 Pakistan
Submachine gun 9×19mm Parabellum MP5A3
MP5A5
MP5K
Several sourced from Pakistan[36]
Uzi  Israel Submachine gun 9×19mm Parabellum Uzi SMG Replaced by the H&K MP5 but still in reserves.

Shotguns

Picture Model Origin Type Caliber Version Notes
Benelli M4 Super 90  Italy Shotgun 12 Gauge M1014
Mossberg 500  United States Shotgun 12 Gauge
Remington Model 870  United States Shotgun 12 Gauge

Rifles & Carbines

Picture Model Origin Type Caliber Version Notes
Colt M16  United States /
 Philippines
Assault rifle 5.56×45mm M16A1 Current standard issue rifle, either made by Colt USA or Elisco Tool (Elitool) Philippines. 30,000 units were handed-over to the PNP on-loan from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, several are with the PNP-SAF.
Colt Commando  United States /
 Philippines
Assault rifle 5.56×45mm M733
M653
M653P
Either made by Colt USA or Elisco Tool (Elitool) Philippines.
GIAT FAMAS  France Assault rifle 5.56×45mm FAMAS G2 Acquired in limited numbers in the late 1990s.
IMI Galil  Israel Assault rifle 5.56×45mm Galil AR
Galil SAR
Formerly from the Philippine Constabulary.
M14 rifle  United States Battle rifle 7.62×51mm M14 In service as standard battle rifle. Several units will be undergoing repair and upgrade with the Government Arsenal.
M1 Garand  United States Semi-automatic rifle .30-06 Springfield M1 Used for training purposes only.[33]
M4 carbine  United States /
 Philippines
Carbine 5.56×45mm Colt M4A1
FERFRANS M4A1
Colt M4A1s acquired from the US. FERFRANS refurbished almost 1,000 units of unserviceable Colt-Elitool M16A1 to specialized M4 standard.[34] Several were distributed to the PNP-SAF.
FERFRANS SOAR  United States Carbine 5.56×45mm SOAR 11
SOAR 14
SOAR-P 11
SOAR-P 14
Similar to the M4 carbine, developed by FERFRANS using patented components and US-made parts, including a reduced rate of fire and use of a 1:9 twist barrel instead of the usual 1:7 twist on standard M4. SOAR 11 uses a 11.5" barrel, while SOAR 14 uses a 14.5" barrel. SOAR-P is a piston version of the rifle.

Designated Marksman & Sniper Rifles

Picture Model Origin Type Caliber Version Notes
FERFRANS SOACR  United States Designated marksman rifle 7.62×51mm DMR
SOACR 18"
Earlier models were called FERFRANS DMR.
FERFRANS SOPMOD M14 EBR  United States Designated marksman rifle 7.62×51mm SOPMOD M14 EBR 18.5"
SOPMOD M14 EBR 22"
Built by FERFRANS from existing M14 rifles using Sage International M14/M1A EBR Tactical Stock System aluminum chassis but with an M4 buttstock, delivered in 2008.
IMI Galil Sniper  Israel Designated marksman rifle / Semi-Automatic Sniper Rifle 7.62×51mm Galil Sniper In limited numbers.
Knight's Armaments SR-25  United States Semi-Automatic Sniper Rifle 7.62×51mm Mk.11 Mod.0
Heckler & Koch PSG1  Germany Semi-Automatic Sniper Rifle 7.62×51mm PSG-1 Limited numbers in service.
Savage 10FP  United States Sniper Rifle .308 Winchester FERFRANS TSR
FERFRANS TSR2
111 units acquired by the PNP, several went to PNP-SAF. Acquired as the FERFRANS TSR & TSR2 system, using the Savage 10FCP base unit with modifications and features added by FERFRANS.[31][37][38]
Barrett M82  United States Anti-Materiel/Heavy Special Applications Scoped Rifle .50 BMG M82A1 M82A1 in service since the early 1990s. M107A1 were acquired within Horizon 2 phase.

Machine Guns

Picture Model Origin Type Caliber Version Notes
FERFRANS HVLAR  United States Light machine gun 5.56×45mm HVLAR Standard squad automatic weapon.
FN Minimi  Belgium Light machine gun 5.56×45mm Minimi
Para
Standard squad automatic weapon.
CIS Ultimax 100  Singapore Light machine gun 5.56×45mm Mark 3
M60  United States General-purpose machine gun 7.62×51mm M60E3
M60E4
Standard general purpose machine gun.
M240  United States General-purpose machine gun 7.62×51mm M240B Standard general purpose machine gun.
Vektor SS-77  South Africa General-purpose machine gun 7.62×51mm SS-77 Acquired in limited numbers, mostly mounted on armed vehicles.
M2 Browning  United States Heavy machine gun .50 BMG M2HB Tripod and vehicle/boat-mounted.

Grenade Launchers and Assault Weapons

Picture Model Origin Type Caliber Version Notes
M203  United States Grenade launcher 40mm M203
M203A1
Attached to M4/M4A1 (M203A1) and M16A1 (M203).
M79  United States Grenade launcher 40mm M79 Also used for non-lethal ammunition for crowd dispersal.
CIS 40 AGL  Singapore Automatic Grenade launcher 40mm 40 AGL Mounted on Land Rover Defender utility vehicles
M67  United States Recoilless rifle 90mm M67 In service[39]

Armored Vehicles

Picture Model Origin Type Version Notes
Cadillac Gage Commando 4x4  United States Armoured personnel carrier V-150 28 reportedly in inventory, although the number of active vehicles might be less.[40]
CTK Armored Vehicle  Philippines Armoured personnel carrier 6W Urban Several in PNP-SAF inventory. Based on locally developed bank armored vehicles. Only used on urban operations.
HMMWV  United States Armoured personnel carrier M1114 Several in PNP-SAF inventory, donated by US JSOG-P units.

Aircraft

The PNP's Air Unit is attached to the Special Action Force.

Picture Model Origin Type Version Notes
Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil  France Light utility helicopter AS350 3 in service.[41]
Robinson R44  United States Light utility helicopter R44 Raven II 3 acquired in 2008-2009,[41] 1 crashed in 2010.
MBB Bo 105  Germany /
 Philippines
Light utility helicopter BO-105C 2 in inventory, probably inactive.[41] Assembled locally by PADC.

Support

The SAF could call on the support of the PNP and its own Air Unit as its method of transportation via helicopter, as done under General Order 0405,[9] or via vehicles such as the M998 Humvee, mounted with a Browning M2 machine gun on top, modified Ford F-150s, and the V-150 Commando APC as a form of armed support. Land Rover Defender jeeps are also used by the SAF, modified to house a Browning M2 machine gun and a Vektor SS-77 machine gun on the passenger seat for the former. Various helicopters in service with the SAF's Air Unit are tasked with various duties, from transportation to surveillance and reconnaissance.

New armored vehicles similar to those used by banks were introduced to the SAF as a primary means of armored transportation in urban areas, and some models are used as mobile command posts.

Commanders

The list are the directors who had commanded the SAF.[42]

PDIR Carmelo E Valmoria PNP is one of the former chiefs of the PNP-SAF.
NAME RANK TERM
Fidel Valdez, Ramos Major General May 09, 1983 Inauguration & Founder
Reynaldo Velasco Lieutenant Colonel May 16, 1983 - February 13, 1987
Avelino I. Razon Jr. Major February 14, 1987 - August 1, 1989
Hermogenes E. Ebdane, Jr. Police Chief Superintendent August 2, 1989 - February 11, 1991
Enrique T. Bulan Police Chief Superintendent February 12, 1991 - March 8, 1992
Dictador L. Alqueza Police Chief Superintendent March 8, 1992 - June 5, 1992
Recaredo A. Sarmiento III Police Chief Superintendent June 6, 1992 - August 2, 1994
Edgar B. Aglipay Police Chief Superintendent August 2, 1994 - June 6, 1996
Marcelo E. Navarro Jr Police Chief Superintendent June 16, 1996 - August 23, 1998
Jose O. Dalumpines Police Chief Superintendent August 14, 1998 - February 14, 2001
Rogelio B. Bathan Police Chief Superintendent February 14, 2001 - September 13, 2002
Servando M. Hizon Police Chief Superintendent September 14, 2002 - December 27, 2003
Silverio D. Alarcio Jr. Police Chief Superintendent December 27, 2003 - September 8, 2004
Marcelino F. Franco Jr. Police Chief Superintendent September 9, 2004 - February 26, 2006
Silverio D. Alarcio Jr. Police Chief Superintendent February 26, 2006 - May 18, 2006
Leocadio SC Santiago Jr. Police Director March 2007 - 2010
Enrico D Limlengco Jr Police Senior Inspector December 02, 2011
Catalino S. Cuy Police Director 2011 - June 2012
Getulio P. Napeñas Police Director December 11, 2013 - January 27, 2015
Noli Taliño Police Chief Superintendent January 27, 2015 – March 4, 2015
Moro Virgilio Lazo Police Director March 4, 2015 – present

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Special Action Force.

Citations

  1. 1 2 "SAF CELEBRATES ITS 24TH YEAR" (PDF). Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  2. 1 2 "Philippine SF Overview". Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  3. 1 2 "Six things you have to learn about Philippine Special Operations Forces". Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  4. Fernando R. Ortega. "THE NEW SPECIAL ACTION FORCE COMMANDO COURSE" (PDF). Force and Valor. p. 7. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  5. Aligre Martinez. "THE URBAN COUNTER-REVOLUTIONARY WARFARE COURSE" (PDF). Force and Valor. p. 8. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  6. Rhoderick Armamento. "THE BASIC AIRBORNE COURSE" (PDF). Force and Valor. p. 8. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  7. Maryanne Moll. "Through Fire and Ice" (PDF). Force and Valor. p. 5. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  8. "Force and Valor Table of Contents" (PDF). Force and Valor. p. 2. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  9. 1 2 3 "Performance Highlights". Philippine National Police. 2007-03-02. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  10. Philippine Headline News Online (Phno). "Elite Special Action Force (Saf) Deployed In Makati City". Newsflash.org. Retrieved 2013-02-06.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 "About Special Action Force". Philippine National Police. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  12. 1 2 3 "Official SAF history". Philippine National Police. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  13. "Special Action Force camp to rise in Pinugay". Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  14. "MMDA help sought in demolition operations inside police camp". GMA Network. 2008-09-14. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  15. Cecille Suerte-Felipe (2009-01-05). "PNP, US troops to hold joint Balikatan exercises". Philippine Star. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  16. "The Origin of Wildfire" (PDF). Force and Valor. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  17. "SAF Annual Report, SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS May 2003-May 2004". Philippine National Police. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  18. Miko Santos (2003-09-23). "Police arrest 9 bank robbery suspects". Sun.Star Manila. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  19. Oliver Teves (2005-03-16). "At least 23 die in Manila jail raid". The Standard. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  20. May Vargas. "Camp Bagong Diwa Likened to Auswichtz". Bulatlat. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  21. "Police, Muslims to thwart Sayyaf reprisals". Sun.Star Manila. 2005-03-18. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  22. Joel Guinto, Thea Alberto (2006-10-09). "Elite military, police units to go after NPA in airport raid". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  23. Kenneth del Rosario (2007-10-26). "Police officer, 4 robbers killed in QC shootout". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  24. "Brig Gen. Danilo Lim arrested". GMA Network. 2009-11-29. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  25. "(Update) National Police in full alert". GMA Network. 2007-11-29. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  26. http://www.philstar.com/nation/567943/4-saf-men-killed-5-hurt-npa-ambush
  27. http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/310243/news/regions/8-elite-cops-killed-7-others-hurt-in-npa-ambush-in-cagayan
  28. http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/05/27/13/8-elite-cops-killed-cagayan-npa-ambush
  29. http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/417613/news/nation/roxas-44-killed-12-wounded-in-mamasapano-misencounter | title=Roxas: 44 killed, 12 wounded in Mamasapano ‘misencounter’ | publisher=GMA Network | date=January 27, 2015 | accessdate=January 27, 2015
  30. "About SAF". Philippine National Police. 2006. Archived from the original on 2009-03-09. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  31. 1 2 "Official SAF ISTAR Course information" (PDF). Philippine National Police. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  32. "Philippines police officers warned not to pawn new pistols". Gulfnews. 2013-07-16. Retrieved 2015-10-07.
  33. 1 2 3 "Official SAF Commando Course information" (PDF). Philippine National Police. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  34. 1 2 3 Ibp Usa; USA Int'l Business Publications (2015-03-10). PNP to bid out contract for P133.7-M sub-machine guns. Philstar.com. Retrieved 2015-10-07.
  35. Lewis, Jack; Robert K. Campbell; David Steele (2007). The Gun Digest Book of Assault Weapons (7 ed.). Krause Publications.
  36. GERMAN FIREARMS IN THE PHILIPPINES by Roman Deckert, seen Sep 24, 2008
  37. "Savage Model 10 Precision Rifles Used by Philippine National Police Counterterrorism Unit". Tactical Life. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  38. "Savage Arms Cutting Edge Sniper Weapon System". Tactical Life. 2010-03-25. Retrieved 2015-10-08.
  39. "BIFF won't return SAF weapons without rematch vs PNP". Philstar. 2015-02-20. Retrieved 2015-10-08.
  40. "PNP asked to allot P24 M more for defective combat vehicles". Philstar. 2011-09-06. Retrieved 2015-10-08.
  41. 1 2 3 "Philippine National Police look to purchase 15 helicopters". HeliHub. 2012-10-12. Retrieved 2015-10-08.
  42. "SAF Directors". Philippine National Police. Retrieved 2009-06-30.

Bibliography

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/24/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.