NCPO chief urges more drills for fiesta

By Paulo DS Papa

TO enhance the quick response mechanisms during this year’s Peñafrancia Festival, the Naga City Police Office is requiring its personnel and partner agencies to conduct more simulation exercises.

On July 11, the Philippine National Police, in collaboration with the Naga City Fire Station, Public Safety Office, and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, conducted a simulation exercise at the PAGCOR building in the Balatas New Development Area.

Participants practiced and enacted their responses to incidents such as bombings, fires, shootings, and stampedes, which are anticipated during religious activities like the Traslacion and Fluvial processions.

Police Staff Sgt. Roberto Aguillon, assistant spokesperson of PNP Naga, stated that the activity was successful and their performance was sufficient to handle emergency situations.

However, Police Col. Erwin Rebellon, the city police director, has ordered more simulation exercises to be organized and led through the end of July and into August.

Col. Rebellon aims to ensure better and faster responses to potential situations that could result in casualties and public disorder during festival activities. As of this writing, police authorities have not yet announced the dates for these exercises.

Meanwhile, additional police forces have been requested from the PNP’s regional headquarters in Legazpi City, though the exact number has yet to be determined.

Col. Rebellon explained that they must first classify the schools and barangay facilities that will accommodate the incoming police personnel. These forces will be deployed from different parts of the region to monitor visitors and devotees from the city and other parts of Bicol and the country.

“Accommodations will determine the total number of additional police personnel to be deployed in the city,” he said.

These personnel will provide security services to the millions of people expected to visit the pilgrim city. Currently, the Naga City police force consists of 881 active personnel, serving a population of over 200,000 inhabitants.