MANILA, Philippines - Following the bloody hostage crisis in Manila that claimed the lives of eight foreign tourists, the local police in Quezon City has asked the city government for coordination on tourists visiting the city.
Chief Superintendent Benjardi Mantele, director of the Quezon City Police District, has asked the city government's Cultural and Tourism Affairs Office to properly coordinate with the city police on any scheduled visit, trip, or excursion of tourists in the city for security and protection purpose.
The QCPD is also set to conduct a series of crisis management trainings to provide its special action teams with the know-how and preparation in handling situations similar to the hostage-taking incident in Manila.
According to Mantele, policemen should be well-prepared for any untoward incidents that may happen in the city and should perform their duty promptly, effectively and efficiently.
The police official said "protocol" and crisis management flow charts had been distributed to different police stations and police officials in the city, for them to study the proper handling of hostage-taking incidents.
"Police officials should know very well the flow chart for hostage-taking as well as the proper cordoning of media and other persons not involved in the crisis management team," he said. - By Reinir Padua
