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By Anthony Vargas Reporter
They are woman commandos. Hear
them roar anytime now against abusive spouses, hostage-takers and
other threats to the safety of both men and women, young and old.
These women took center stage
during Wednesday’s 17th anniversary celebration of the Philippine
National Police at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
They were introduced midway
through the celebration by another woman and the guest of honor,
President Gloria Arroyo, who formally activated the first all-women
police commando unit trained to handle domestic violence,
hostage-taking and similar crisis situations.
“We want to show that police
girl power is not limited only to sisterly counseling. It also packs
a mean punch,” President Arroyo said in her speech before police
and military officers.
After her speech, the national
police chief, Director General Avelino Razon Jr., presented to Mrs.
Arroyo the members of the all-women police commando unit, or the
Special Weapons and Tactics team.
The commando unit will be placed
under the control of the newly activated Women and Children
Protection Center under Chief Supt. Yolanda Tanigue, the first
female star-rank officer in the national police. The center will
also oversee an all-women civil disturbance-management unit. It will
be provided with mobile cars and motorcycles for patrol.
The all-women team “should be
able to respond to extreme cases of domestic violence or
hostage-taking situations,” the President said.
She gamely posed for pictures
with the members of the commando unit, some of whom were in black
and camouflage uniforms and armed with assault rifles and grenade
launchers.
The President ordered that
women’s and children’s desks in all police stations be painted
with feminine pastel colors and be given friendly reception areas
and clean comfort rooms.
Razon said the establishment of
the all-women commando unit aims to ensure the safety and protection
of all, particularly women and children from all forms of abuses.
Tanigue, a social worker, said
all policewomen have long aspired for the creation of the commando
unit and the center.
“Now, we have a unit that is
solely dedicated to handling cases that involve women and children,
whether they are victims [of] or suspects” in crisis situations,
she added.
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