PNP-Butuan creates 1st all-female SWAT in PH
By Police Cpl. Laarni M. Mabilog
Nowadays, the cry for gender
equality has become a recurring issue in the society.
With this, the government
agencies, which include the Philippine National Police (PNP), are faced with
the challenge of ensuring a service that would be gender-sensitive and would be
able to provide equal opportunity for both male and female personnel.
Women of the PNP are examples that
the female populace can do so much in our society.
We see them as strong, intelligent
and assiduous women of the society.
When it comes to work, PNP women
contribute in resolving crimes in our community.
Their presence alone can suppress
criminal activities which are associated to the lowering of criminality rates
in this city.
To highlight and give emphasis to
the service of the female personnel and to promote women empowerment, Police
Col. Albert G. Magno created the all-female Special Weapon and Tactics
Team (SWAT) which is called the SWEET16 or the Special Women Elite Enforcement
Team.
The said group is composed of 16
female police personnel of Butuan City Police Office (BCPO).
The new elite team of BCPO was
introduced to the public last March 8, 2019 during the women’s month
celebration at Butuan City Hall ground.
They were presented to encourage
all women of Butuan City to continue to aim high and to embody strength and
passion of an empowered woman.
The said all-female SWAT will
undergo the specialized training at Regional Training School Unit of Region 13,
Santiago, Agusan del Norte.
This training would equip them
with advance knowledge about special combat operations, close quarter battle,
knowledge and techniques in different weapons available in Philippine National
Police.
Currently the SWEET16 are
undergoing rigid physical conditioning supervised by SWAT personnel of BCPO in
preparation for the upcoming training.
The BCPO is already drafting the
final Program of Instruction (POI) which will guide the course of training.
The members of the SWEET16
expressed their commitment and excitement in their new journey as police
officers.
After the training they will
become the only all-female elite team that would be based in this city that
would serve as front line defense in times of threats, crimes and chaos which
may jeopardize civilian’s safety and security.
According to Magno, this SWEET16
would be his legacy given that this is the first ever all-female SWAT in the
country.
“This team would relay the message
of equality that in PNP we value and trust police women the same way as we give
importance to our policemen,” Magno added. (BCPO/PIA-Caraga)