Australian police to conduct hostage crisis training for PNP

Eight months after the Aug. 23, 2010 Manila hostage tragedy, the Philippine National Police will get a training from the Australian Federal Police (AFP) on handling hostage crises. The AFP's Senior Police Liaison Officer Michael Kilfoyle will conduct the Command, Control and Coordination (C3) Training for PNP Senior Officers April 11 to 15. "The training will give focus on 'negotiation issues' related to political incident which has direct relevance to the events of the August 23 hostage taking in Manila," the PNP said in a news release posted on the PNP website Tuesday. The Aug. 23 incident left eight Hong Kong tourists dead, along with hostage-taker Rolando Mendoza, a dismissed police officer. The PNP was heavily criticized for its handling of the crisis. Training, participants The PNP statement added that the training will be held at the Aguirre Hall at the Multi-Purpose Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City. Australian Ambassador Rod Smith is expected to grace the opening program as the guest of honor and speaker. Participants will include representatives from the Command Group and Senior Officers of the Metro Manila police and national headquarters with the rank of at least Senior Superintendent (colonel). Of the 25 senior PNP officials expected to participate, seven will come from the Southern Police District (SPD); four from the Northern Police District (NPD); three from the Eastern Police District (EPD); and two each from the Metro Manila, Manila and Quezon City Police Districts. The National Headquarters Office Directorate for Operations (DO), Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM), Directorate for Police Community Relations (DPCR), Directorate for Human Resource and Doctrine Development (DHRDD) and PNP Training School (PNPTS) will have one slot each for the training. According to the PNP, the training is aimed at enhancing their knowledge and skills in handling crisis situations. "The training is designed to give senior officers who in all likelihood would perform the role of a Police Commander or Police Forward (Ground) Commander in the event of a high-risk or critical incident, the knowledge and skills required to take appropriate response in such incidents," Kilfoyle said. PNP chief Director General Raul Bacalzo thanked the AFP through Kilfoyle for their continuing support to the PNP, especially on giving exercises like the Command, Control and Coordination training. — RSJ, GMA News