Beyond the Bullet Proof Vest: Untold Stories of Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP SAF) Commandos

The ever-changing demographics of society, the rise in terrorism and its complexity, as well as agitations, violent protests, a variety of political activities, left-wing terrorism, insurgency, and militancy, as well as the enforcement of economic and social laws, have all contributed to the difficulty of achieving the peaceful society that we all desire. This study explored the lived experiences of Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) Commandos in Negros Island, Philippines through a qualitative research method. The participants of this study were the selected ten (10) PNP-SAF commandos. Four (4) participants were subjected to individual in-depth interviews, while the other six (6) participants were subjected to a focus group discussion. The findings of this study are described in emergent themes. Six (6) emergent themes described the positive and negative experiences of the participants in the implementation of counterterrorism programs. For the positive experiences, three (3) emergent themes were developed, namely: Personal Satisfaction and Job Fulfillment, Recognition from the Community, and Influence on Community Peace and Order. For the negative experiences, three (3) emergent themes were also developed, namely: Financial Constraints and Limited Resources, Familial Longings while on Mission, and Infiltration in Hotspot Areas. Meanwhile, two (2) emergent themes were formulated to explain how the participants address the challenges encountered in the implementation of counterterrorism programs, namely Coordination and Collaboration with Other Agencies and Community Engagement and Trust-Building Programs. Finally, two (2) emergent themes were created to express the aspirations of the participants to improve the implementation of counterterrorism programs, namely Continuous Training and Skills Development and Adequate Financial and Logistical Support. Based on the emergent themes identified, it is recommended that the PNP-SAF commandos be exposed to continuous training and ongoing collaboration between agencies and partners to ensure an efficient response to counterterrorism and counterinsurgency incidents. By allocating an appropriate budget and implementing the requisite enhancement training and programs, the SAF commandos may be able to increase their effectiveness in implementing these initiatives.