Anti-terrorism drill held in Subic Bay to thwart biological attacks
Philippine Army and Philippine National Police personnel in hazardous material protection suits perform radiation-tracking procedures during a mock biological terrorism attack held at Subicwater-Binictican Treatment Facility in Subic Bay Freeport zone Thursday, May 26. (Photo courtesy of SBMA)
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) recently staged a mock terrorism attack as part of the national government’s thrust to thwart terrorism in the country.
In a statement on Monday (May 30), the SBMA said the simulation exercise at the Subic Water Binictican Water Treatment Plant was an inter-agency activity to prepare for an actual scenario of terrorist biological attacks and hazardous material accidents.
The Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Simulation Exercise (Simex) 2022 was carried out on May 27 by the Anti-Terrorism Council – Program Management Center (ATC-PMC) under the DILG’s Project Management Office .
According to Rolen Paulino, SBMA chair and administrator, the opening scenario during the CBRN Simex involved a negotiation between the terrorist group that took over the Subic Water Binictican Water Treatment Plant with plans to contaminate the water supply of Olongapo City.
The simulation exercise series included personnel from the DILG, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), ATC-PMC, Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Prevention (BFP), Disaster Risk Reduction Management Offices from Bataan and Zambales, Peace and Order Councils of local government units, CBRN National Team Observers, Subic Water and Sewerage Company, Inc., and the SBMA.
DILG Assistant Secretary Brig. Gen. Alexander Macario said the exercise should support and develop exercise practitioners’ competency to plan, implement, and evaluate simulation exercises within the terrorist-related CBRN crisis field.
“This exercise also requires the active participation of representatives from both local and national government agencies, and includes non-government units and stakeholders,” Macario said.”
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