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Monday, April 07, 2003
Fear grips city as cops conduct drill
By Edwin G. Espejo
GENERAL SANTOS -- Fear and confusion gripped residents in this city after a loud explosion was heard near the Oval Plaza last Friday afternoon.
Authorities later claimed the explosion was just an exercise to test the level of preparedness of the police force in case another bomb explodes in the city.
Some residents here, however, criticized the police for failing to inform the people of the drill.
"When people are on their toes, the police should not add to the anxiety by irresponsible drills," opposition Councilor Franklin Gacal Jr. told Sun.Star through a text message sent minutes after a loud explosion shook residents near the city's central business district.
A businessman who owns a restaurant along the national highway said the explosion could cause people to go crazy.
"Paano na lang kung may sakit sa puso? E, di namatay. Dapat ipinaalam nila sa tao," the businessman said. (What if people have heart problems? They could have died. They should have informed the people.)
General Santos City Police Office (GSCPO) director Senior Supt. Jeorge Aquisap said the local government was informed about the exercise although he admitted they failed to alert members of the media community.
The exercise was conducted reportedly upon orders of the chief of the Philippine National Police, according to Aquisap.
He added that they had to do it even if a powerful bomb exploded just two days earlier in Davao City.
Sixteen people were killed and at least 35 others were injured in the Sasa Wharf bombing incident in Davao City.
"Wala tayong magawa, pinapagawa kami ng report ng Camp Crame," Aquisap told Sun.Star in an interview. (We can't do anything; it was an order from Camp Crame.)
But Mayor Pedro Acharon Jr. defended the unannounced drill.
He said the information was deliberately kept to a few people in order to gauge the reaction time of police and military authorities and quick reaction teams of the City Government.
The city mayor added that only five people and several coordinators knew the details of the dry run.
"Ang mali lang adto kay nasobrahan ang pulbura," Acharon nevertheless admitted. (The only fault was the police used a large quantity of explosive materials.)
The explosion was so powerful residents in Lagao, some 5 kilometers away from the scene of the exercise, heard it.
Correspondents and bureau chiefs of national news agencies here were also deluged by calls asking details of the explosion.
Some reporters who were in Alabel, Sarangani attending a seminar had to rush to the area only to be told that it was a mere exercise.
Aquisap declined to identify the type of explosive materials used in the exercise.
Participating in the drill were the police, private and public hospitals and local government agencies like the city disaster and coordinating council and the city social welfare and development office, and the Philippine National Red Cross. Sun.Star General Santos
(April 7, 2003 issue)
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