A REPORT of an explosion on the road in between the National Shrine of St. Joseph and the Mandaue City Hall at 8 a.m. Thursday, March 28 sent police to the area to cordon it off.

A fire truck from the Bureau of Fire Protection, Mandaue City Risk Reduction and Management Council personnel, enforcers from the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue and paramedics rushed to the scene.

Special Weapons and Tactics operatives, the military’s K9 unit, and the Scene of the Crime Operation team also rushed to the area.

A few minutes later, a bomb threat from a nearby school was reported, and this led to the evacuation of students, teachers and other employees.

Then a second explosion occurred.

The twin explosions stunned some passersby and people processing their transactions at the Mandaue City Hall.

These scenes, however, were just part of a bomb explosion simulation exercise conducted by the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO).

MCPO Director Julian Entoma said the exercise is his way of checking the capability of his personnel. It is also part of their security preparations for activities that will be held in the city.

During the Holy Week in April, some activities of the National Youth Day will be held in Mandaue City.

Supt. Ryan Devaras, head of the simulation exercise, observed that the responding personnel needed to secure themselves first.

He said the police should check if there are other devices that might explode before cordoning off the area.

Devaras gave them a rating of eight, in which 10 is the highest and one is the lowest.

He assured that they have improved, but they still need to ensure their own safety before making other moves.

“How can you secure the people if you yourself are not secured?” Devaras said. (From FMD of SuperBalita Cebu, KAL)