Explosives detection dogs ready for election deployment

ILOILO CITY — The Explosives Detection Dogs (EDD) of the Explosives and Ordnance Division (EOD) of Police Regional Office 6 (Western Visayas) are ready for their May 13 election deployment.

The EOD team recently acquired two EDDs that will help the other two to ensure that election day is free from bombs and other explosives, Capt. Jordan Bacalangco, EOD team leader, said Friday.

Bruce, a five-year-old Labrador; and Manny, a four-year-old Belgian Tervuren, are the new EDD graduates sent from Camp Crame to EOD-6.

The two had completed their training with their handlers, Bacalanco said. Col. Glen Ermina handles Bruce while Patrolman Rex Totol handles Manny.

“They are to panel all the precincts in Region 6, not only in Iloilo City. At the same time, they are ready for any suspected items that we subject for them to sniff. They will determine if the boxes are positive for explosives or not,” Bacalangco said in an interview.

The two other EDDs under the EOD are Obre, a two-year-old Belgian Tervuren; and King, a three-year-old Labrador.

The EOD began the election deployment of the EDDs on May 7. The four EDDs also did their election duties at the A. Mabini Elementary School along Mabini St., Iloilo City Proper here, where they were presented to the members of the media.

Aside from the four EDDs under the EOD, Bacalangco said they can also tap the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) when they need reinforcement for bomb-sniffing dogs, especially during festivities such as the Dinagyang Festival in this city, MassKara Festival in Bacolod City, and Ati-Atihan Festival in Aklan.

Bacalangco also took pride of Obre, who bagged the “Medalya ng Kasanayan” during the 2019 Dinagyang Festival, for ensuring a celebration free of explosives.

He assured that the EDDs are equipped with the capability to do the same on Monday.