BALANGA CITY, Bataan, (PNA) — Police conducted here Thursday its first simulation exercises on hostage crisis under the Philippine National Police (PNP) Incident Command System (ICS).
Police Supt. Joel Tampis, Balanga City police chief, said they have to train on the ICS, formerly the Incident Command Management System, upon orders of higher headquarters to prepare lawmen in cases of hostage-taking.
Tampis said that hostage incidents have two stages – negotiation and assault – that are police roles.
”Our focus in this exercise is not in those two stages. But the essence is on how to react to such situation and how to set ICS,” Tampis told participants during a briefing.
Through the training, he said responding police officers will be guided by whatever lapses might have been incurred during past hostage-taking incidents.
”It is very important to have presence of mind and be always ready in responding to any incidents,” Tampis told his men.
The ICS exercise started with a disgruntled losing candidate for barangay captain taking hostages inside the barangay hall of Malabia here.
Police upon receiving the report immediately cordoned off the area, barred unauthorized persons, even mediamen, inside the police line.
Aside from police officers and members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), participants included city rescue medics and the Bureau of Fire Protection.
Some senior officers from the police provincial office acted as observers.