MANILA, Philippines -- A simulated armed robbery will be conducted Friday in a Mandaluyong City mall to test new procedures formulated separately by the Philippine National Police and security forces of various business establishments in eastern Metro Manila.

Supt. Antonio Yarra, Eastern Police District Intelligence and Detection Division head, said more than a thousand policemen will participate in the activity.

“We will test the security preparedness measures formulated by both groups and evaluate its effectiveness,” he said.

The results of the exercise will provide insights on how to improve on preventive measures employed in cases of armed robberies, particularly in crowded areas, Yarra added.

Another objective was to assess the capability of security personnel of business establishments in dealing with high-pressure threats.

Yarra said security personnel have recently taken refresher courses on various safety measures, including what to do during emergency situations and conducting routine bag inspections.

Seminars are also ongoing involving the exchange of information and procedures on mall safety between policemen and security forces of business establishments in the metropolis, the police official added.