Bomb drill on campus

In an effort to educate students on proper response to emergencies, officers of the Western Police District (WPD) and the administration of the Mapua Institute of Technology held a bomb drill at the school’s campus yesterday morning.

To make the exercise more realistic, the school administration and the police did not inform students of the bomb drill that took place at around 10 a.m. at the Mapua building in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

PO3 Anthony Galang of the WPD-Explosives and Ordnance Division (EOD) said the students, mostly taking up engineering courses, acted calmly and followed instructions given by the school and police officials.

When the supposed bomb threat was announced, students were instructed to vacate their respective rooms and proceed to a designated area. Authorities later informed the students that the evacuation was simply a drill.

One student, however, had sent text messages to his parents about a bomb about to explode on campus. He later sent another message to inform them it was just a drill.

As part of the exercise, "bombs" were placed in three different areas — at the main building, west wing and the gymnasium. Upon the arrival of the bomb squad, the areas were immediately cordoned off to ensure no on gets hurt in case of an "explosion."

Bomb experts later emerged from the room carrying the "detonated explosives."

A member of the school staff said faculty members were aware of the drill because the explosives experts of the WPD held lectures about bombs last week.

Lectures and drills in schools are required by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) as part of the government’s effort to minimize casualties and damage in case of a terror attack.