Cayetano laments PNP-SAF’s ‘imaginary camps’ in Visayas, Mindanao

FILE PHOTO: A Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) trooper sits on top of an armored personnel carrier (APC) which was deployed in Navotas City on Thursday, July 16, 2020, to assist in the strict enforcement of a two-week lockdown to arrest the growing number of coronavirus cases in the city. PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Alan Peter Cayetano has expressed regret over the “imaginary camps” of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) in Visayas and Mindanao.

Noting the defects of the camps, Cayetano committed to providing sustained support to enhance the facilities for the PNP-SAF.

“Inikot ko po ang ilang mga kampo ninyo sa Mindanao at sa Visayas, at nalaman ko na ang kampo na ‘yun ay literally an imaginary camp — ni walang fence, walang wall, walang structure. Katulad sa Bacolod, hiniram lang ‘yung lupa,” he said in a speech on Sunday, January 1, during his traditional New Year’s Day get-together with the PNP-SAF.

(I checked some of your camps in Mindanao and Visayas, and I learned that those camps are literally imaginary camps — no fence, no wall, no structure. Like in Bacolod, the land was just borrowed.)

“We are here to help you. So please, General, ‘wag po kayong mahihiya. Kung ano po ang maitutulong namin in our personal and official capacity para po lalong matingala kayo bilang mga ‘Tagaligtas’ sa buong bansa, please let us know and it will be a privilege to continue to help,” he also said, assuring PNP-SAF Director General Police Brigadier General Edgar Okubo of support.

(We are here to help you. So please, General, do not be shy. Whatever we can extend to help in our personal and official capacity for you to be looked upon as saviors of the country, please let us know and it will be a privilege to continue to help.)

The senator added that he is honored “for the opportunity to be able to advocate” for the PNP-SAF as he pushed for its additional funds in the national budget this year.

Under the 2023 national budget, Cayetano supported the P170-million funding for key facilities and equipment of the PNP-SAF in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

The budget allocates funds for a variety of initiatives, including the construction of multifunctional facilities (P10m), the maintenance of the SAF’s V-150 armored vehicle (P10m), and the development of the site for Phases 2 and 3 of the SAF Headquarters Building (both P75m).

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