US to donate 6 K-9s to Manila police

The Manila Police District will receive six specially trained bomb-sniffing dogs from the United States after three visiting US anti-terror experts were impressed with the MPD’s anti-terrorism program.

MPD acting director Senior Superintendent Danilo Abarzosa said the dogs will complement their six local dogs, handled by the district’s bomb disposal unit.

Three officials from the US embassy’s Regional Security Office-Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program, led by its program manager Craig Lovato, personally assessed and were satisfied with the bomb disposal unit’s capabilities.

Abarzosa said that despite the unit’s inadequate and substandard equipment, the American experts commended the MPD for its efforts in securing vital installations in Manila, especially the US embassy along Roxas Boulevard.

The US-trained dogs will be delivered in January. Abarzosa is now scouting for police officers who will undergo training in handling the dogs.

Aside from sniffing for bombs and drugs, the dogs were also trained to help in rescue efforts, according to Abarzosa.

"I was told by the US officials that the dogs’ handlers should undergo special training to meet the high-standard skill of these kind of dogs. Caring and proper maintenance shall also be included in the training," he said.

The US-trained police officers will in turn train their local counterparts in the proper rearing and caring of special dogs.

The special dogs will be housed in air-conditioned kennels of Manila’s City Veterinarian Office.

Security forces in Metro Manila have been constantly on the watch for possible terrorist attacks.