150 police officers graduate in SCOUT

by Maritess Beñas

Bangued, Abra (16 August) — 150 Police Officers who underwent the Special Counter Operations Unit Training (SCOUT) at the Camp Juan Villamor, Calaba, this town have successfully graduated last August 5, 2009.

The 45-day SCOUT course is a basic combat training for new recruits of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to prepare them for their possible encounter with rebels and other lawless elements and eventualities in the field of operations.

According to P/SSupt. Samuel Diciano of the Abra Task Force, the Abra PNP Provincial Office headed by P/SSupt. Charlo Collado was chosen as the training host and venue for the 45-day SCOUT Training Course because of the wide training ground and the improved training facilities and equipment of the camp.

The SCOUT is a basic requirement for all new PNP recruits and officers. Unless they undergo this rigid combat training, they will not be given their field assignment.

The SCOUT graduates will get their assignments from PRO-COR Regional Director Orlando Pestaño himself at Camp Bado Dangwa in La Trinidad, Benguet where they will be reporting after their four 4-day break following their graduation.

Diciano stressed upon the SCOUTers to always keep in their mind and hearts what they have learned during their training wherever they will be assigned.

During the graduation, the PNP likewise conducted a free medical and dental mission for the PNP retirees in Abra, also at Camp Villamor. The medical/dental mission also served to take an inventory of the retirees to avoid misrepresentation in the pensioners’ availment of pension.

It can be noted that in the past years, there have been cases of misrepresentation whereby family members continued to receive the monthly pensions of retired PNP who have died. The PNP does not want the same thing to happen again that is why they conduct a yearly inventory of their retired members as well as the beneficiaries of their dead members. (PIA-Abra)