One of the dogs in NCRPO K9 units underwent a short training during the press conference at Camp Bicutan, Taguig City on Sept. 15. /NCRPO PIO
MANILA, Philippines — The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Tuesday said it is training more dogs for its K9 units to assist in the illegal drug efforts as well as detection of explosives.
In a press conference, Metro Manila police chief Major Gen. Debold Sinas announced that eight dogs for explosive detectors and five dogs for narcotics detectors are currently undertaking training such as daily walks and obstacle courses.
He said there is a need for “re-training” of the dogs to ensure that they are equipped with the basic training.
“Three to six months kailangan i-retrain mo rin baka kasi nakalimutan yung basic. ‘Yun yung program nila which we support it,” Sinas said during the press briefing at Camp Bicutan, Taguig.
After training, 13 dogs will be sent to different places of convergence to ensure safety in Metro Manila.
“Ang aso natin nagpapatrolya ng places of convergence particularly sa malls, bus terminals, MRT, department store. Ngayon, kung magbukas na rin simbahan, ay doon din sila pupunta,” Sinas said.
(Our dogs will be deployed in areas of convergences particularly in malls, bus terminals, MRT, department stores. Now, if the churches will open, we will also deploy them there.)
Currently, NCRPO has 40 canines for its Explosives and Ordnance Division K9 Unit with 27 already deployed in different areas in Metro Manila.
The EOD/K9 Unit is in charge of safe disposal of bombs and neutralization of hazards from chemicals, nuclear, and improvised explosive devices (IED) which poses risk in the community.
Sinas said four of the dogs in their K9 units are priced at around P200,000 to P300,000.