Anti-terror simulation exercise successful, security cluster says

According to Task Force Davao Commander Colonel Darren Comia, “overall, the simulation exercise is a success.”

Comia thanked the Davao City National High School’ teaching staff and students for their participation in said simex.

Comia said the exercise is a vital security measure and preparation for the city where threats, particularly those from local terrorist groups, are only “three to five hours away.”

“With this simulation exercise, we believe we can address the situation at hand, of course, with coordination and collaboration with all agencies at hand,” he said in a report from the City Information Office (CIO). 

Comia also thanked all Dabawenyos who experienced any discomfort during the exercise for their patience and understanding.

“The good thing about it is napaka-supportive and napaka-cooperative ng mga Dabawenyos,” he said.

Comia further said more simulation exercises will be staged in the future so that the appropriate response in a security crisis will become a “muscle memory” in Davao City’s security forces and citizens. 

During the exercise, the city’s security and safety cluster deployed 222 personnel from the Davao City Police Office, Task Force (TF) Davao, Public Safety Security Command Center (PSSCC), Central 911, Bureau of Fire Protection, City Disaster and Risk Reduction and Management office and other agencies. 

Over 20 units of the city’s mobility assets (firetrucks, ambulances, rescue trucks, etc.) were deployed in the area.

This year’s simex is the longest so far, taking up more than two hours (3 p.m. to 5 p.m.) to execute. 

Angel Sumagaysay, head of the Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC), on the other hand, said the execution of the containment, rescue and neutralization of hostile elements went smoothly during the exercise.

Sumagaysay, however, said the complexity of the scenario—which includes bomb throwing, active shooting and hostage-taking—prompted the security forces to approach the situation more carefully, extending the expected time frame for the exercise.

He said the simex exposed some setbacks in the security cluster’s inter-operational response, particularly in the communication pathways among the various security units.

The execution and response of the city’s security cluster were given a score of 7.5 to 8 out of 10.  

Mayor Sebastian Duterte, who chaired the incident command post was joined by all team leaders and commanders of the different units and agencies involved.