The Special Action Force (SAF) is a tactical unit of the Philippine National Police founded by Fidel V. Ramos, later the twelfth president of the Philippines, serving as a paramilitary counter-insurgency/terrorist unit.
History
Formed on May 12, 1983, by the now-defunct Philippine Constabulary (PC) as the Philippine Constabulary Special Action Force (PCSAF) as per PC General Orders 323. The creation of the SAF was inspired by and "formed along the lines of" the British Army's Special Air Service (SAS). Fidel Ramos and Renato de Villa were the founders of the unit. De Villa directed Rosendo Ferrer and Avelino "Sonny" Razon Jr. to organize a Special Action Force. After which, a training program called the PCSAF Ranger Course, was used to train the 1st generation of SAF troopers, which had a number of 149 troopers. Out of them, 26 were commissioned officers with the others being enlisted personnel from a wide range of PC units such as the PC Brigade, the Long Range Patrol Battalion (LRP), the K-9 Support Company, PC Special Organized Group, the Light Reaction Unit (LRU) of PC MetroCom, the PC Off-Shore Action Command (COSAC) and other PC Units. Later on, they changed the name of the course to SAF Operations Course (SAFOC) then SAF Commando Course (SAFCC).
During the days of the EDSA Revolution in late February 1986, Ramos was involved in planning an operation called "Exercise Ligtas Isla" ("Exercise Save Island") in case either First Lady Imelda Marcos or Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Fabián Ver would take over as ruler from President Marcos, who had already been ill by that time. When Corazon Aquino acceded to the presidency, the SAF were mandated to be on standby due to the several coup attempts by rogue Philippine soldiers throughout her rule.
On January 29, 1991, President Aquino signed Republic Act 6975 into law, which changed the name of the SAF from PCSAF to PNPSAF as a part of transition of government.
In 2008, it was reported that the SAF moved to a permanent camp at Barangay Pinugay, Baras, Rizal under Proclamation No. 1355 passed in August 2007.
For the first time, SAF troopers were involved in the Balikatan exercises in 2009 since American and Filipino troops are usually involved.
On July 20, 2016, SAF created NBP Facility Security Provisional Battalion led by PSUPT Ledon Monte to take over from the Bureau of Corrections the duties to man the New Bilibid Prison, particularly in the Maximum Security Camp where big-time drug lords and hardened prisoners are held.
The PNP has approved the creation of five more Special Action Battalions to the SAF in 2017.
In June 2018, the SAF would undergo additional urban warfare training as part of lessons learned from the Marawi crisis.https://mb.com.ph/2018/6/5/police-commandos-to-undergo-urban-warfare-training-programs
In 2019, the SAF witnessed the beefing-up of its Air Unit with the operationalization of 9 new helicopters (7 Airbus H125 and 2 Robinson R44 Raven II units). On June 29, 2021, the Air Unit was transferred to the Office of the Chief, PNP as prescribed under NAPOLCOM Resolution Number 2021-0720. This was in line in the PNP's 2020 Annual Report in an effort to ensure the force's organizational effectiveness, air support and mobility.
Known operations
February 1986: People Power Revolution. 1986 to 1989 - SAF Conducted anti-coup operations against anti-government rebels from the Philippine military. Late 1980s to 1990s - First deployed to battle against NPA and MNLF rebels. May 1987 - Then PCSAF under MAJOR Avelino Razon, Jr was deployed in Ifugao to conduct operations against the CPP-NPA. 1987 - Two Special Action Companies (SACs) were deployed in Negros Island and conducted successful operations against the NPAs. It caused the surrender of considerable numbers of the NPA operating in Negros Oriental. The 2SAC and 4SAC were led by 1LT Noli Talino (2SAC) and (4SAC)1LT Josephus Angan and 1LT Ramón Mateo Dizon, who later became Brigadier General and PSG Commander under President Benigno Aquino III. 1992 - Newly created 4SAB under PSUPT Abraham Garcillano and PCINSP Emmanuel Caeg was placed attached with the Western Police District to assist in neutralizing criminal elements involved in robbery/hold-up of banks and pawnshops, including armored cars. 1SAC led by PINSP Adriático del Camat and PINSP Bernard Banac was deployed in Ermita, Manila, while the 2SAC led by PINSP Constancio Item and PINSP Bernardo Rosario was deployed in Sampaloc, Manila. 1993 - The 3SAB was deployed in Basilan to go after notorious bandits and KFR groups. March 15, 1993 - A team of SAF Troopers led by PINSP Clemente Vargas and PINSP Bernardo Rosario discovered NPA killing fields in Brgy Kalabigan Hills, Marag Valley, Luna, Kalinga-Apayao. 1994 - The 1SAB led by PCINSO Ager Ontog, 2SAB led by PCINSP Jaime Calungsod and Special Operations Battalion (SOB) Deep Reconnaissance Company (DEER) led by PINSP Bernard Banac and PINSP Rodolfo Castil, Jr replaced the 3SAB under PCINSP Bai Layon in Basilan with primary function to restore peace and order and conduct operation against the Abu Sayyaf. 1994 - PSUPT Samson Tucay, Commander, SOB sent the Light Armor Coy "Bubuyog" led by PINSP Bernardo Rosario and PINSP Ramil Montilla to Zamboanga and Basilan to provide fire support to SAF units under the Mindanao Police Task Force (MPTF). 1994 - PINSP Joseph Plaza and PINSP Parena were among those who headed the SAF Training Group in Basilan to conduct SAFOC. October 1994 - Two teams from 2SAB led by PINSP César Pasiwen and PINSP Cris Mendoza neutralized Commander "Arabain" in Tuburan, Basilan. October 1994 - The 1SAB was deployed in Region 12 with its Battalion HQ in Sultan Kudarat. October 1994 - The 1SAC, 1SAB under PINSP Willy Cayat backed by 2SAC under PINSO Tellio Ngis-o successfully took over the Malitubog-Maridagao Irrigation project from a Muslim rebel group led by Commander "Damskie". PINSP Victor Arévalo and other PNCOs were wounded during the operation. A bomb technician expert who was recovering/disarming anti-personnel mines was killed by a sniper fire. December 1994 - The 2SAC led by PINSP Ngis-o with Junior Officers PInsp Argel Ancheta, PInsp Jech Abecia, PInsp Chito Bersaluna, PInsp Kirby John Kraft, PInsp Ricardo Javier, PInsp Jacob Macabali, PInsp James Cristobal Coy Ex-O and PInsp Joel Limson, Chief of Police of Carmen MPS in Cotabato with support from 3SAC, successfully liberated the barangays of Tupig and Tonganon, Carmen, Cotabato from the control of the Muslim rebel group that occupied the villages after they were displaced from Malitubog-Maridagao Dam. PO2s Ycoy and Pellobello who were part of the Blocking Force were killed in the said operations. The 2SAC, 1SAB was awarded as Best Operating Company by the Regional Police Office 12. June 1995 - Composite personnel from 1SAB, 2SAB, 3SAB,4SAB, SOB DEER COY led by PINSP Bernard Banac and PINSP Rodolfo Castil, Jr and SOB "Bubuyog" LAC, led by PINSP Bernardo Rosario and PINSP Ramil Montilla were deployed to Negros Island as primary component of Negros Island Police Task Force. September 1996 - The 3SAB under PCINSP Román Félix was deployed in SBMA-Bataan area to conduct clearing operations as part of security preparation for APEC. 31SAC was attached to 24th IB, Philippine Army under Major Emmanuel Bautista to conduct joint combat raids in the towns of Balanga and Orion, Bataan and nearby areas. It was transferred to Mauban, Quezon to support the local police. March 1995 - The RECON COY under PSINSP Ronald Santos was deployed to Nueva Ecija for election duty and was responsible for many accomplishments including the arrest of Mayor Joson and his 13 bodyguards, who were responsible for the killing of his political rival Mayor Pérez. 1997 - The RECON COY under PSINSP Willy Cayat was deployed to Davao del Norte at Mount Diwalwal to restore peace and order and conduct police operation against use of explosive components by miners in their operation of mining gold in Mount Diwalwal. 1997 to 2000 - The 1SAB under PSUPT Benjamin Magalong figured in numerous special operations such as arrests and raids on high-profile lawless elements and hostage rescue operations in cooperation with Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF). Its Counter-Terrorist Unit also figured in series of raids against NPA that resulted in the neutralization of some of NPA leaders. August 4, 2000 two teams of SAF LRU of PAOCTF Luzon led by PSINSP Edgar Alan Okubo and PSINSP Félix Servita, Jr engaged eight fully armed robbers of the Danny Flores Gang after a hot pursuit operation in Alabang, Muntinlupa resulting in the killing of four suspects and arrest of four others and the recovery of six high powered long firearms and five handguns. One SAF trooper was KIA. July 27, 2003 - SAF EOD experts were deployed to Makati during the Oakwood Mutiny. August 25, 2003 - SAF units were deployed in Makati after heavily armed bank robbers attacked the headquarters of Citibank Philippines. September 23, 2003 - A joint raid by the SAF, CIDG, Intelligence Group (IG), Traffic Management Group, Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP), Army Intelligence and Security Group (AISG) and Marines assaulted Palar Village in Taguig, netting a bank robbery gang made up of ex-Armed Forces soldiers believed to have been responsible for the earlier Citibank Philippines robbery. September 28, 2003 - SAF provided Quick Reaction Forces for protection of US President George W. Bush during his state visit to the country. October 2, 2003 - SAF arrested Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist Taofek Refke. March 10, 2004 - SAF teams engaged NPA guerrillas in a gunfight alongside soldiers of the Army's 24th Infantry Battalion at Sitio Caarosipan, Barangay Apóstol, San Felipe, Zambales. Eight NPA guerrillas were confirmed killed. A SAF officer was KIA, while three were WIA. April 28, 2004 - Arrest of Abu Sayyaf terrorists in the Muslim community in Culiat, Quezon City. March 18, 2004 - The SAF Commando Cl-27 composed the 24SAC, 2SAB who were deployed to Cotabato (Buliok Complex) as requested by Governor Emmanuel Pinol to serve as a peace negotiator between the government and the MILF rebels. They also served as security during the 2004 presidential election in the province. May 31, 2004 - SAF protected ballot boxes used in the May 10 general election. June 11, 2004 - SAF teams were deployed in a resettlement area in Taguig, after reports of snipers were sent to the PNP. June 20, 2004 - A SAF officer was killed when SAF and the Zambales Police Provincial Mobile Group engaged the NPA in a firefight in Zambales. July 17, 2004 - A group of phone hackers, consisting of Filipino and foreign nationals, were arrested in a raid conducted by the SAF. July 28, 2004 - The SAF provided security for former Abu Sayyaf hostage Gracia Burnham who testified against said terrorist group in a local courthouse. September 27, 2004 - SAF teams were deployed in the Cordillera to disarm various Partisan Armed Group (PAG) gunmen in the employ of several local prominent politicians. January 30, 2005 - SAF arrested various members of a kidnap-for-ransom gang in Batangas City. February 10, 2005 - SAF arrested members of a bank robbery gang during a raid in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga.