The Philippine Online Chronicles

An assessment program conducted by the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) revealed “dismal results” as only 42 out of 418 members of the police force’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit passed the skills tests.

“At least 324 or 77.5% of those tested lacked fundamental SWAT skills,"  added Metro Manila police chief Director Leocadio Santiago.

"93 others failed to complete and pass the individual skills tests,” he said.

In addition, only 56 were able to undergo physical tests because of medical problems and old age.

Need for retraining

Local police went under fire in the wake of the August 23 Hostage Crisis, wherein the SWAT unit was widely perceived to have botched efforts to rescue a group of foreign tourists in a commandeered bus. The crisis dragged on for 11 hours before police forces were able to crack down on hostage taker former policeman Rolando Mendoza. Eight of the hostages were killed.

"One of the recommendations of Police Chief Superintendent Miguel Laurel, the Assessment Team Leader, is to immediately implement a training program to uplift the physical fitness and individual skills of the SWAT personnel," a statement from the NCRPO said.

"Santiago said that from here on, all SWAT units will undergo a standard training to be conducted by SAF [Special Action Force] instructors. This is necessary to ensure the inter-operability of the various SWAT units from the regional, district, city and municipal police offices in the entire Metro Manila," it said.

"Candidates need to pass the battery of physical fitness, shooting skills, and neuro-psychiatric tests [before moving on] to the training proper," the statement added.