BACOLOD CITY — The Civil Disturbance Management (CDM) contingent of the Bacolod City Police was declared overall champion in the Police Regional Office 6 (Western Visayas) CDM Challenge 2018 held at Camp Martin Delgado in Iloilo City on Thursday.
“You have brought another honor in the name of BCPO (Bacolod City Police Office). Your shared commitment, discipline and determination cannot be measured,” said Senior Supt. Francisco Ebreo, city police officer-in-charge, as he congratulated the team for doing a good job.
The Bacolod Police will represent Western Visayas during the national CDM competition, which has yet to be scheduled.
Its contingent is composed of 122 personnel headed by company commander, Chief Insp.Sherlock Gabana.
Also part of the team are Senior Inspectors John Adrian Real and John Christopher Masangkay with Inspectors Arlyn Torrendon, Vergel Valdepeña, Florentino Abalayan, Jonito Pastrana, and Rondyl Tapang.
During the competition, the contingents were evaluated based on the parameters and criteria provided in the police operational procedures and rules established by appropriate regulations.
The competition, which tests the preparedness of CDM units, was held in three phases.
First was the graded inspection, which includes the completeness of CDM complement equipment, uniforms and support elements; second, demonstration by company-size complement of the eight basic CDM formations; and third, problem-based scenarios requiring the participants to solve and apply appropriate formation and procedures.
Based on its policies and guidelines, the Philippine National Police provides police assistance “only when requested by the leaders or organizers for maintenance of peace and order or to ensure the safety of those participating in the public assemblies held in freedom parks or on private property.”
When deployed, the CDM contingent is required to wear the prescribed uniform without firearm, and will use tear gas, smoke grenades, water cannons, or similar anti-riot devices only when the public assembly is attended by actual violence or serious threats of violence, or deliberate destruction of property. (Nanette Guadalquiver/PNA)
