By Aaron Recuenco The Philippine National Police (PNP) is planning to expand the cross-training of policemen with the Philippine Army to further improve the capability of its elite police forces in internal security operations. PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde (Kevin Tristan Espiritu / MANILA BULLETIN) PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said cross-training with soldiers will not only enhance the combat capability of their personnel but will also strengthen the interoperability of the police and the military in running after communist rebels and other threat groups like the Abu Sayyaf. "We encourage these cross trainings so that when there are joint operations in remote areas, they will have strong cooperation and collaboration with their military counterparts," said Albayalde. Earlier, at least 10 policemen were among those who graduated on Scout Ranger training courses by the Philippine Army, one of them is on sniping courses. Albayalde said Scout Ranger courses are really useful for their elite forces-- Public Safety Battalions and Companies and the Special Action Force. Currently, the PNP leadership is implementing commando courses for new recruits but the emphasis is more on discipline and stamina amid the involvement of rookie cops on illegal activities, as well as the criticisms that some policemen are too fat to chase criminals. The Scout Ranger courses, on the other hand, focus on planning and carrying out operations and jungle survival. These also include specialized courses for snipers. Police forces usually take over the internal security mandate from the military of remote areas that would be declared as free from communist rebels or those who are nearing to be cleared from big rebel groups. In recent years, elite police forces were already joining operations against communist rebels and extremist groups in Mindanao.