Gen. Felipe Natividad has been installed as the newest director of the elite Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police. Police Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, PNP chief, presided the turnover of command between Police Maj. Gen. Bernabe Balba, outgoing SAF director, and Natividad at the SAF Headquarters at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City. Natividad was Calabarzon police chief when the 'Bloody Sunday' raids took place in March, resulting in the deaths of nine activists and progressive leaders. Former SAF director Balba, for his part, was designated as the new director of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations-Visayas. PNP chief Eleazar was also commander of the Joint Task Force COVID Shield when fully-armed SAF members with drones were deployed to Cebu City to enforce health protocols.

Source: Philippine Star May 12, 2021 05:37 UTC