Interagency capability demonstration exercises were held on Wednesday on Panglao Island to strengthen security in Bohol province.
Inquirer Visayas
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol – What would happen if terrorists went again to Bohol province, kidnapped hostages and planted a bomb?
An interagency capability demonstration exercise held on Wednesday on Panglao Island tried to answer that question.
The Bohol provincial government, Philippine Navy, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection, and other law enforcement agencies held the anti-terror exercises in the seas off Panglao to demonstrate improved capability in responding to terror attacks in the province.
The exercise started with “tourists” enjoying the beach on Panglao Island when a group of terrorists arrived to kidnap them. The military came to rescue the tourists.
Another scenario involved terrorists aboard a pump boat attacking another pump boat.
In the exercise, the alert boat crew sent a distress signal to a Navy craft patrolling the area even before the terrorists got near the boat.
The Naval Force Central responded, and conducted search and combat operations to rescue the would-be victims and neutralize the bandits.
Another scene involved experts who checked the place for bombs. To make the exercise realistic, the organizers exploded two bombs.