By Annabel Consuelo Petinglay/PNA
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique — A simulation exercise on a bomb explosion incident during a political campaign rally was conducted by the Public Security Group at the capitol ground Tuesday afternoon.
Lt. Col. Norby Escobar, Antique Provincial Police Office (APPO) Deputy Director for Operations, said the simulation exercise was held at the capitol ground as part of their contingency plan.
“The simulation exercise is held to test how prepared we are in case there would be a bombing incident during a rally,” Escobar said.
The activity was participated in by 55 personnel from the APPO, San Jose Municipal Police Station and the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), 12 personnel of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) of San Jose de Buenavista, and four personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
Lt. Col. Mark Anthony Darroca, San Jose de Buenavista chief of police, said their response time was three minutes after the police patrol of San Jose de Buenavista, which was patrolling in front of the Antique National School, received a radio call about the incident.
“The police patrol of San Jose de Buenavista was the first to respond in the crime scene at the capitol ground,” he said.
He said that personnel on board the police patrol were able to seal off the entrance and exit of the tennis court at the capitol ground where there were casualties and injured persons.
“The police was also able to immediately establish a command post,” he said.
Likewise, the traffic enforcers were able to handle well the traffic flow clearing the road for responders.
“This simulation is the first time held for the year,” he said.
He said that in the coming months they will conduct another bomb threat drill for Public Safety Group members so that they will be more prepared in case a real situation happens.