PNP BOMB DRILL, SEMINAR SLATED

Parent Category: MicroNews

With the recent pronouncement of high level of security threat in Mindanao relative to Bin Laden’s death, the PNP-Directorate for Intelligence led by POLICE DIRECTOR RENATO DF HEREDIA, thru the Philippine Bomb Data Center (PBDC) will be holding a series of Bomb Drill Competition and Boom Awareness Seminar on three (3) separate venues in the country.

It aims to harden soft targets such as public transport, malls, churches, schools and other vital installations from bombing attacks and similar incidents. Public vigilance on bomb threats and their involvement in the efforts to prevent bomb-related incidents is encouraged as safety is “everybody’s concern”.

On May 18, 2011, the PNP-DI-PBDC will hold the Transportation Security Awareness Seminar (Land, Sea, Air, and Rail) to be held at the DI-Intelligence Training Group (ITG) which will be attended by different representatives of the transport sector and other stakeholders. Members of the Tri-Media is also invited to the said activity for them to learn and share the knowledge to be teach by lecturers and resource speakers from the PNP-Directorate for Intelligence and high ranking government officials.

Relatedly, the PBDC, formulated the Bomb Advisory poster and leaflet to maximize its advocacy against bombing. Copies were initially distributed to the liaison of different PROs after the first dril competition in Camp Crame, Quezon City. Participants of the bomb awareness seminars conducted were also given copies.

Advisory posters and leaflets will be distributed to the public for them to be aware of the recent trend of bombing events and to be vigilant for possible retaliatory attacks on vital installations and soft targets like churches and public transport facilities after the death of Osama Bin Laden, founder and leader of Al Qaeda terrorist group who was killed by U.S. Navy Seals.

Moreover, the first Bomb Drill Competition was successfully held in Camp Crame, Quezon City last March 24, 2011 which was participated by various police units in the National Capital Region and Philippine Army, EOD. A similar activity was also held in General Santos City on April 27, 2011. The cities of Butuan and Zamboanga will play host on the next activities.   

The bomb squad drill competitions is aimed at upgrading the reliability and efficiency of the PNP and the AFP EOD/Bomb Squads in Manila and Mindanao, particularly in responding to any bomb related threats. The competition will stimulate the awareness of local chief executives and PNP commanders on the level of preparedness and equipage of their respective units and personnel. Further, the event will serve as a morale booster to the EOD community in general and enhanced interoperability among law enforcement agencies.

The PNP had already intensified its security measures around Metro Manila and the entire country to curb movements of local terrorist groups who will try to bring their evil acts after their leader was killed.

In addition to these activities, the center also provides lecturer to Post Blast Investigation course conducted to different police units aimed to guide first responders, bomb technicians, criminal and forensic investigators, as well supervisors on the investigation management of a bombing case. At present, less than a hundred Southern Police District personnel are undergoing the said training to enhance their skills and capacity in handling bomb explosions and bomb threats effectively and efficiently.