CEBU, Philippines - If a bomb explodes in Cebu City during the Sinulog festivities, especially during the Grand Parade, traffic congestion and thick crowds would be the biggest hindrance of policemen and rescuers.
This was what authorities realized yesterday following a simulation of a bombing incident at the Fuente Osmeña circle and at the grand stand at the Cebu City Sports Center.
The simulation was conducted jointly by the Cebu City Police Office, the Central Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and related agencies of the Cebu City government.
The Fuente circle and the sports center are among the most crowded places during the Grand Parade.
Cebu City Police Office director, Sr. Supt. Joel Doria, said he was satisfied with how the police responded but pointed out traffic congestion slowed the deployment of personnel.
Doria suggested that traffic personnel must man the streets at all times during the Grand Parade.
During yesterday's simulation at the Fuente Osmena circle, a dump truck and a car figured in a "real life" collision because the drivers were all looking at the simulation exercise.
"Kung ma-obserbahan ninyo, lahat halos ng driver dito nakatingin. So magiging problema yan… dahil hindi nakatingin sa kalsada, that will cause traffic accident," Doria said.
The accident interrupted vehicle traffic on Osmeña Boulevard, which hampered responders.
To help lessen congestion, Councilor David Tumulak, chairperson of the City Council's committee on peace and order, urged private car owners to leave their vehicles if they want to take part in the street activities, especially along the route of the Grand Parade.
"I ask the car owners not to use their vehicles. Manglakaw lang ta," he said.
For the Grand Parade, N. Bacalso Avenue near the Cebu City Sports Center will be a "freeway" for medical and police responders.
Regional Police Deputy Director, Sr. Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas, who was at the sidelines of yesterday's simulation, said both the police and the Explosives and Ordnance Division of the AFP failed to clear the area before allowing rescue workers to proceed to retrieve "survivors and casualties."
Lawas said the scenario at the Fuente circle was designed to involve two bombs. Without clearing the area first, the responders might become victims themselves.
Ready
Even with the outcome of yesterday's simulation, Police Regional Office-7 Director Noli Taliño said the police are ready for the festivities.
"Ready na tayo," he said.
The Task Force Cebu from Central Command and all other Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) components in Cebu plus the Coast Guard and volunteer groups will augment security.
He said there is no need to request for augmentation forces from outside Cebu.
"Dito muna sa atin. If kailangan natin mag-pull-out coming from other Provincial Police Office, gagawin natin pero sa ngayon, kaya pa naman," he said.
PRO-7 did not discount the possibility of terrorist attack during Sinulog.
Additionally, Tumulak said Taliño will be in Malacañang today to brief President Rodrigo Duterte on the security preparations for the Sinulog.
He said security preparations for the Sinulog are highly technical.
"This would be a highly technical security preparation. This involves not only manpower but it also includes technology. For the past few years sa Sinulog, kini ang double and triple sa preparation because of the impending threats," he told reporters.
He said Philippine National Police chief Director-General Ronald Bato dela Rosa is expected to be in the city to lead the implementation of the security plan.
Taliño himself said terrorism remains on top of their list of considerations.
"Isa sa kino-consider natin ay terrorism. Lahat naman ng matataong lugar, activities na maraming tao, target nang terrorism," he said.
Never Enough
Mayor Tomas Osmeña, on the other hand, said "double and triple" security preparations will never be enough.
"It's never enough. It's scary because the profile of the people who want to create harm is very clearly interested in civilian casualties, not military combat," he said.
He said it will only take one bomb to be detonated in a crowded place to ruin the celebration. The best everyone can do is be careful and be vigilant, he said.
"It only takes one bomb. There's hundreds or thousands of people. What can 5,000 soldiers do?" he said.
"How do you prevent this from happening? We can only do so much. I'm just saying this to people, just be careful. If you have a particular area, just monitor what's on the ground," he said.
For example, if something is placed on the ground that did not exist minutes before, people should stay away from that area and coordinate with police officials. — /JMO (FREEMAN)