Series of bomb drills were held in this city Wednesday in preparation for security measures to be undertaken during the 25th Kadayawan Festival celebration starting next week.
Task Force Davao (TFD) spokesperson Lieutenant Arvin Pedrosa said five bombing scenarios were staged all over the city starting at 7:50 a.m. conducted by several agencies of Davao City Oplan Laban sa Terorismo (DColt) where an unattended box believed to be containing an improvised explosive device (IED) was set up at the parking area of the Davao City International Airport, bringing in the Army's Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and K9 team to the area.
DColt is headed by Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and the members were represented by the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) headed by Senior Superintendent Rene Aspera, TFD headed by Colonel Romy Cabanalan of the Philippine Army and Public Safety Command Center (PSCC) headed by Colonel Mario Verner Monsanto.
Pedrosa said the airport drill, however, caused some confusion among the responders as the unattended box was reported not by someone who was part of the planned drill but by a bystander who did not know about the activity.
Right after the IED in the airport was disposed, another report came around 8:50 a.m. that an unattended baggage was also sighted in front of the Chowking restaurant fronting Victoria Plaza in Bajada, J.P. Laurel Av. The area was cordoned and the IED was disposed.
Around 9:05 a.m., a black and gray Kawasaki motorcycle without a plate number suspected to be carrying an IED was seen at SM city Mall heading towards the downtown area.
Units from Central 911 and Mobile Patrol Teams were alerted and stopped the staged bomber on the spot. The IED was also disposed.
At 9:25 a.m., a black Starex van plate number LGP 194 parked in front of the Davao City Overland Transport Terminal Office (DCOTT) was discovered to be containing unattended baggage suspected to an IED. The vicinity was cordoned and the IED disposed.
The last scenario was staged with an explosion and several casualties in the area.
At 9:50 a.m., Pedrosa said a suspicious-looking person wearing white T-shirt, maong pants and red baseball cap carrying a black pack bag was spotted walking along Quimpo Boulevard, rode a white multicab with plate number LWM-844, and then headed towards Marco Polo Hotel.
The multicab was stopped beside Osmena Park where 29 persons looked to be victims of the explosions. Emergency medical respondents were quick to aid the "victims." Enforcers were able to place everything under control around noon.
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