A simulation exercise of a kidnapping scenario, a bomb attack, and a terror attack was held Saturday morning at the White Beach of this world-famed island.
The capability demonstration activity is in line with the activation of the Joint Task Force Boracay of the Local Government Unit of Malay and the Maritime Joint Task Force “Area Shield” Central Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
The activation of the local task force is to strengthen the capability of the LGU-Malay in detecting, preventing and neutralizing any threats in Boracay and the town.
Task Force head Rowen Aguirre, also the executive assistant for Boracay affairs, said the activation was just the start of the many activities the multi-agency body would conduct to prevent any threats inside and outside of the island.
He said more meetings would be conducted to coordinate all involved agencies and create contingency plans for all eventualities.
As part of the simulation exercise, members of the task group showed how to respond in a scenario where eight people posing as tourists were able to enter Boracay with plans to kidnap a foreigner and demand a ransom.
During the exercise, the task force demonstrated how to respond to threats within the three rings of security of Boracay - within the island, in its coastal waters and on its neighboring areas.
As part of the demonstration, exchange of gunfire happened between the attackers and the authorities, bomb disposal experts successfully detonated a bomb while medical teams responded to wounded parties.
The Boracay task force will be composed of members of the local Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, PNP-Maritime Group, Philippine Navy, Philippine Army, Bureau of Fire Protection, among others.
The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the Malay Auxiliary Police of the LGU-Malay will also be part of the task force and the response group Boracay Fire Rescue & Ambulance Volunteers (BFRAV).
Meanwhile, Boracay is a priority site of the newly activated-Maritime Joint Task Force “Area Shield” as well, according to Brigader General Jon Aying, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army.
Aying said the Maritime Joint Task Force (MJTF) would secure all the maritime waters and coastlines, and even hinterlands in the region from all threats of terrorism.
“We do not want what happened in Bohol to happen in Boracay,” Aying stressed.
Boracay will be under the Task Force Protect of the MJTF while areas in Region 7 will be under Task Force Deter.
Philippine Navy Chief Ronald Joseph Mercado meanwhile said the activation of both task forces was to “discourage the conduct of any illegal activities in Boracay and its nearby areas.
“The reason we launched this security apparatus is primarily to ensure that we here have a solid security system and deterrence posture in place,” he stressed.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/989451
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