A person attempting to bring into Davao City suspected shabu worth Php128,640 was arrested at the Bunawan-Lasang checkpoint while security forces were having a Simulation Exercise (SIMEX) on Thursday in the areas of Barangays Sasa and Lanang.
Such apprehension reflects the “realistic” and “serious” performance of the participants during the SIMEX, said Angel Sumagaysay, the Head of the Davao City Public Safety and Security Command Center.
Sumagaysay said the drug suspect, who was identified as Johnrey Orang Dela Cruz, 41 years old, married, and a resident of Villa Felipa Magsaysay, Misamis Oriental, was caught during the routine inspection at the checkpoint while the security forces locked down areas covered by the SIMEX.
“Kahit na nag lockdown tayo ang routine na inspection nandun parin. So yun na-tsambahan talaga (Even during the lockdown the routine inspections continued. It was there that the perpetrator was caught by chance),” Sumagaysay said.
Sumagaysay said that the arrest of the person was also proof that the city government and the security forces were performing during the SIMEX.
“Makatotohanan talaga kaya nga narecover nila ang illegal drugs. Doon mo makikita na very serious ang performance ng ating mga participants kaya yun nakahuli talaga sila (It was real given that they have recovered illegal drugs. That is where you can see the serious performance of the participants that’s the reason why they caught the perpetrator),” he said.
Sumagaysay said that the SIMEX was part of the Security and Safety program to test the capacity of the remaining security and safety personnel in every unit to respond to security emergencies while some of them are deployed at the polling centers during the elections.
“Before May 1, nag deploy na tayo sa polling centers kung makita mo, may mga naiwan sa stations, sa mga units at yun ang gusto naming subukan talaga. Yung resources na naiwan kada units magamit talaga natin at kaya pala talaga mag-react kahit kokonti talaga sila (Before May 1 we have already deployed [forces] to the polling centers. As you can see there are those who remained in the stations and units, and that is what we want to test. The remaining resources have proven that they can respond even with limited number),” Sumagaysay said, adding that the security cluster has reserve forces from Task Force Davao and the Davao City Police Office.
Overall, Sumagaysay said the SIMEX was successful as the participating units performed their mandates well and it was orderly, and there was smooth coordination during the performance of the units’ respective mandated tasks.
Thursday’s simulation involved two phases: Phase 1 – the bombing of an oil depot, and Phase 2 – terrorists escaping to the Davao Gulf.
“Yung command control maganda naman properly controlled ang area. Yung Phase 1 natin maganda ang result. Yung second Phase 2 natin which is gi-utilize natin yung maritime units maganda ang performance (The command control was done well and the area was properly controlled. Phase 1 had good results and Phase 2 where we utilized the maritime also was performed well),” Sumagaysay added.
He thanked all the units who participated in the SIMEX and was hopeful that such an exercise will be repeated. CIO
