PNP names former Calabarzon police chief as new SAF head

Facade of the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame. Image from pnp.gov.ph website

MANILA, Philippines — The leadership of the Special Action Force (SAF) was officially turned over to Police Brig. Gen. Felipe Natividad, who replaced outgoing Police Maj. Gen. Bernabe Balba.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said during the turnover ceremony at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig on Wednesday that he is confident Natividad will maintain the SAF’s dependable reputation.

“I am confident that under your leadership, the SAF will maintain its earned reputation of being the most dependable and highly-specialized force that aims to ensure peace and order across the country,” said Eleazar.

Natividad previously served as the chief of the Calabarzon PNP after being appointed by former chief PNP Gen. Debold Sinas.

Under Natividad’s watch as director, the Calabarzon police came under fire after nine activists were killed in separate raids across the region in what is now known as the “Bloody Sunday.”

In 2016, he also served as director of the Bohol Provincial Police Office, which also came under probe by the Commission on Human Rights after suspected Abu Sayyaf Group member Saad Samad Kiram alias Abu Saad died after being arrested.

In 2018, he was moved to Camp Crame where he served as Special Police Assistant to the chief of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

Meanwhile, outgoing SAF director Balba will become the new director of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations-Visayas.

“Pinatunayan ni MGEN Balba na hindi puro tapang lang ang SAF kundi may puso at malasakit sa kapwa Pilipino noong panahon na binaha at nangailangan ng tulong ang ilan sa mga kababayan,” Eleazar said.

(MGEN Balba has proven that SAF doesn’t only need plain courage but also love and care to our fellow Filipino during the time people needed assistance the most.)

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JPV