Albayalde: PNP needs more crisis drills

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police has to conduct more simulation exercises to improve the capability of the police in responding to crisis situations and prevent another bungled rescue operation, incoming PNP chief Director Oscar Albayalde said yesterday.

He issued the statement after he observed lapses during a simulation drill by police officers of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) at the old Araneta Center bus terminal in Cubao wherein the scenario is a bus hostage-taking.

While the policemen were busy simulating a rescue operation, Albayalde asked some members of media to try to get near the bus.

Albayalde was dismayed when he only saw two policemen doing crowd control measures when cameramen from different television networks and photographers were already near the bus.

“A lot of people were already near before the police reacted,” he said in an ambush interview with reporters.

Had it been a real crisis, Albayalde said the safety of members of media was put in jeopardy as they are faced with an armed and dangerous hostage-taker.

“The safety of people from the media and the operation itself were compromised,” he said.

He cited the hostage crisis at the Quirino Grandstand in August 2010 that left nine people, including hostage-taker Rolando Mendoza, dead.

Albayalde recalled policemen had difficulty controlling the crowd during the crisis. Another lapse is that Mendoza was able to monitor the movements of police officers by watching a live broadcast on a television in the bus.

Sought for comment, QCPD director Chief Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar said the primary purpose of the simulation drill is to correct possible lapses.