Bacolod police lack Swat equipment

BACOLOD City Police Office (BCPO) Director Celestino Guara admitted Wednesday they lack training and the equipment needed to respond to a possible hostage crisis.

Guara said, though the BCPO has sufficient qualified personnel to form the Special Weapons and Tactics (Swat) team, the BCPO lacks the training and the equipment needed by a Swat team for a possible hostage crisis, similar to what happened in the recent hostage taking at Quirino Grandstand, Manila.

Guara added he already proposed the acquisition of Swat equipment for the BCPO to Bacolod City Mayor Evelio R. Leonardia.

The mayor reportedly told him to submit the proposal and Guara is now waiting for the mayor's call so that he can submit the proposal.

"Bacolod really needs additional Swat equipment and training," Guara said.

Like Manila, Bacolod is also a highly urbanized city. What happened in Manila might also happen in Bacolod, the BCPO director added.

Among the needed equipment are optic sights for special operation assault rifle, bullet proof vests, plates for bullet proof vests, gas masks, tear gas, hands-free tactical radios with microphone, tactical urban boots, smoke grenades, and protective mask.

Excluding the firearm, the equipment needed by every Swap personnel may cost almost P400,000.

Guara plans to create two Swat teams and an additional team for the bomb disposal unit. It will take about 25 personnel to man the three teams and it may cost almost P10 million to fully equip them all.

Despite the lack of Swat equipment, the BCPO is always ready and willing to handle any crises that may happen in the city, Guara assured the public.