GENERAL SANTOS CITY — The city government has donated some PHP1.5 million worth of equipment to the city police’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team to further boost its operational capability.
Mayor Ronnel Rivera said Monday the additional gears comprised of 12 sets of Kevlar helmets, vests, pads for elbow and knees, earplugs and eyewear.
Last year, the city government initially donated 17 assault rifles worth PHP3 million to the SWAT team.
The new gears were received over the weekend by the General Santos City police director Senior Supt. Raul Supiter.
“These are just the initial operational packages that are lined for release to the city police this year,” Rivera said in a statement.
He said the local government is currently processing the release of eight additional patrol cars for the area’s police stations and units.
The mayor said he has already signed the notice of award for the custom-made Isuzu patrol cars.
Lawyer Arnel Zapatos, city administrator, said they are also finalizing the purchase of 10 Colt 5.56 rifles for two of the city’s eight police stations.
He said the recipients, which have yet to be determined, will be police stations located in the remote areas.
“The plan is to acquire five rifles each to all eight police stations,” Zapatos said.
He said the 10 new rifles will be distributed to the recipient-stations after the election period in June.
Supiter said the donation was “a huge boost to our operations.”
