CEBU CITY - They poke into bags and sometimes frisk customers but could security guards really identify bombs?
The chief of the security agency and guard supervision section of the regional police office yesterday said most security guards could not identify a bomb when they see one.
According to Inspector Russel Bubuli, guards do not have the expertise in detecting explosives although they are now being tapped by business establishments to impose tighter security measures due to the rash of bombing incidents.
Bubuli said it is necessary for security personnel to be trained on bomb detection and disposal first.
There are 78 security agencies operating in Central Visayas and majority of their guards are either high school graduates or have reached college.
The bombings have prompted business firms in the city, including shopping malls and hotels, to field more guards.
One person was killed and 17 others were injured when a bomb exploded inside a washroom at SM City Cinema 6 in Manila last Sunday.
"I don't think our security guards are capable of identifying bombs inside malls. I believe experts from the bomb disposal unit should help in adopting tighter security measures," Bubuli said.
The other day, Bubuli's office and the Philippine Association of Detective and Protective Agencies Operation Inc. conducted a half-day seminar on bomb detection.
Experts from the Visayas Command briefed the over a hundred representatives of security agencies on how to respond to bomb threats and urged heads of security agencies to hold training seminars on bomb detection.
He said it is important that guards know what to do when they spot a bomb.
Bubuli also said the use of metal detectors might not be effective because some explosives are not made of metals.