The Task Force Davao will stage a simulation exercise (simex) on Saturday, March 26 in Toril District to gauge the interoperability of the members of the security forces in addressing threats to the city’s peace and order situation.
The simulation exercise using the scenario of a bomb and bus hostage rescue operation is still anchored on the Culture of Security campaign of Davao City, as well as the Executive Order No. 62 s. 2021 “An Order Adopting the Integrated Response on Terrorism Plan (Usahay II) of Task Force Davao (TFD) and Activating the Joint Security Forces Cluster in the Event of Terror Attacks.”
“Gagawin natin ito nang sa gano’n makita natin kung ang plano ba na ginawa natin para sa Davao City ay akma doon sa mga lugar, sa mga taong involved para ma-ensure ang safety and security ng Davao City (We are doing this so we can see if the plan that we made for Davao City is appropriate for the place, the people involved so we can ensure the safety and security of Davao City),” Col. Darren Comia, the Task Force Davao Commander, said on Wednesday in an interview with the Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR).
In the make-believe scenario, an individual supposedly carrying a bomb will enter Davao City through the checkpoint in the Toril area and will be intercepted by the security forces. This will prompt said individual to take on hostages on the scene.
Col. Comia said that the activity will test the capability of the city’s Security Forces to address any form of terrorism that might happen in Davao City.
Comia also cited that the decision to stage a bus hostage rescue is based on the recent incidents that happened in nearby cities of Davao City.
“Nakita natin na sa mga previous months, and even yung mga nagdaang taon na ang mga local terrorist groups ang mga pinapasabog nila ay mga bus. Ginawan natin ng scenario, pinahirap natin nang kaunti, nang sa gano’n makadevelop tayo ng capability to address that kind of scenario (We have observed in the previous months, and even in the past years that local terrorist groups bomb buses. We made a scenario, made it a little difficult so that we can develop capability to address such scenario),” said Comia.
Comia said that this year’s simex will be more complex than the last one held on December 4, 2021, when the security forces responded to a mock improvised explosive device (IED) attack.
With this, Comia advised the public not to panic as this is only a drill and part of the city’s counter-terrorism exercises.
Aside from the TF Davao, the simex will be participated by various security units from the Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Davao City Police Office (DCPO), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), among others. CIO
