A SIMULTANEOUS simulation bomb explosion response exercises on Wednesday afternoon in two major cemeteries in Davao City caused panic among those who witnessed it as it was designed to take everyone, including some of the first responders, by surprise.
This is part of Davao City's security preparation for the All Souls' and All Saints' days, the Public Safety and Security Command Center reported on Wednesday afternoon.
“We’re doing this to test the readiness of our responders. This was also directed by the City Mayor in the recent City Peace and Order Council Meeting,” PSSCC head Benito de Leon told VoxPop Davao on Wednesday.
The City Government of Davao on Wednesday issued an advisory to the public to not cause panic during the bomb drill. The activity was conducted around 1:30 p.m. at the Bunawan Public Cemetery and the Davao Memorial Park.
It was a combined effort of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Davao City Police Office (DCPO) spokesperson Police Senior Inspector Ma. Teresita Gaspan likewise said on Wednesday that the bomb explosion scenarios were part of the Simulation Exercises (Simex).
“This was conducted in order to test the operational and tactical readiness of DCPO and other Security Forces and to educate the people on how they would respond in case of any eventualities,” Gaspan said.
Gaspan said that during the Davao City Peace and Order Council (CPOC), Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio order the law enforcers to conduct exercises to prepare security personnel for all eventualities.
“This is in faithful compliance to the verbal instruction of our City Mayor during CPOC Regular Meeting on October 19, 2017 at Grand Men Seng Hotel, Davao City,” she said.