PNP holds hijacking drill at MCIA

CEBU, Philippines - Members of the Aviation Security Group of the Philippine National Police yesterday demonstrated their capability on neutralizing hijackers by holding a simulation of plane hijacking at the Mactan Cebu International Airport.

The drill was also part of the training exercise for personnel of the Philippine Center for Aviation Security (PCAS-7) headed by the newly promoted Senior Supt. Ritchie Posadas.

Members of the rescue team, K-9 unit, Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO), and Fil-Asian Airways joined the exercise. Lapu-lapu City Police Office director Rey Lyndon Lawas brought long with him his SWAT team to observe the demonstration.

The scenario was, armed terrorists hijacked a plane and made all passengers hostage while making their demands to authorities. A negotiation ensued as a standard operating procedure but failed prompting government forces to launch an assault.

Through the help of snipers who positioned themselves strategically, the two assault teams broke into the plane’s door using explosives and started the assault on the hijackers to rescue the hostages. The team succeeded in rescuing the passengers and arrested the hijackers.

All passengers were subjected to stress debriefing after the operation while luggages were inspected by K-9 unit. A bomb was found in one of the bags through the help of a bomb sniffing dog.

PNP-AVSECOM director Chief Supt. Jesus Gordon Descanzo was satisfied with the performance of the team. He said that hijacking drill is a yearly exercise of them to test their capability to respond to emergencies like hijacking.

Aside from the drill, Descanzo was in Cebu to administer the oath and donning of rank of Posadas who was recently promoted to senior superintendent.  (FREEMAN)