Quezon City Police holds bomb drill in Cubao

MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) yesterday held a simulated bomb disposal operation at Araneta Center in Cubao to test the capabilities of its personnel.

The drill, presided by QCPD director Brig. Gen. Joselito Esquivel Jr., was held at the food park of the city’s financial hub along Times Square Avenue at around 8 a.m.

Personnel from the police Explosive Ordnance Division (EOD) detonated two suspected improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

They utilized a bomb disposal robot on the detonation of the second IED, taking into consideration the twin bombings at a cathedral in Jolo, Sulu last January that left 27 people dead.

Aside from the QCPD, representatives from the Bureau of Fire Protection, the city disaster risk reduction and management office and local health department took part in the drill.

Esquivel told reporters he is satisfied with the performance of his personnel. He stressed the importance of holding regular simulation drills to fix loopholes and prepare security forces in the event of an actual terror attack.

“Aside from assessing how quick we can respond to terror attacks, we also want to ensure here that we do what is right on the ground following the standard operating procedures in responding to terror attacks,” he said.