The police official who led the hunt against a small group of Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) who landed in Bohol in 2017 has been designated as the new director of the Special Action Force, the elite unit of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
The turnover of command between outgoing SAF director Maj. Gen. Bernabe Balba and his replacement Brig. Gen. Felipe Natividad was presided by Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar in a ceremony held on Wednesday, March 12, at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.
In his message, Eleazar expressed confidence that Natividad would lead the elite force with professionalism and high integrity in battling terrorism, insurgency, crime groups, and other high value target criminals.
“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,” he said.
Natividad is known for his role in running after a small group of Abu Sayyaf Group which landed in Bohol to conduct kidnapping and other terrorism activities. He was then the Police Provincial Director of Bohol.
On the part of Balba, the Chief PNP lauded him for his contributions to improve the operational capability of SAF not only in the field of law enforcement, anti-insurgency and anti-terrorism operations but also in disaster relief and response.
“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 (He proved that SAF is not only about courage but also a heart and concern for the Filipinos in times of disaster),” he said.
Eleazar also urged each and every member of SAF to remain focus on its role of maintaining peace and order in the land, citing that its operational capability was further enhanced with the purchase of helicopters and recruitment of more SAF commandos to form new battalions.
“The Special Action Force is the representation of what is the best of the Philippine National Police,” said PGEN Eleazar.
“Pagdating sa tapang, pagdating sa disiplina at pagdating sa integridad, walang duda na kailanman ay hindi kayo maku-kuwestiyon dito. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit mataas ang respeto sa SAF kahit kapwa ninyo pulis, at ang SAF ang aking inspirasyon sa aking pangarap na kayang gawin ito sa buong kapulisan (When it comes to courage, discipline and integrity, there is no doubt that nobody could question you. This is the reason why even your fellow policemen have high respect on you, and SAF is also my inspiration in my dream of doing the same for the entire PNP," Eleazar added.