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MANILA, Philippines ? Tension momentarily gripped the bustling Araneta Center bus terminal in Cubao, Quezon City when a package in one of the buses parked there alarmed passengers.
Concerned citizens alerted authorities who arrived around two minutes after the call and inspected the suspicious package.
Upon checking, police confirmed that the package was an improvised explosive device and immediately evacuated all the passengers and cordoned the area.
After defuse the IED, bomb experts immediately brought the package to the laboratory for further examination.
But there was no actual bomb in one of the buses there, as the incident was part of a simulation exercise to test the preparedness of Quezon City policemen when responding to bomb threats.
Chief Superintendent Elmo San Diego, city police chief, said that the exercise was part of the city?s security plan in the coming All Saints? and All Souls? Days on November 1 and 2, respectively, where thousands are expected to flock to bus terminals to go home to their respective provinces for the long weekend.
San Diego said that in actual situations of bomb threats, policemen should immediately cordon off the area and evacuate the civilians. After that, authorities have to defuse the bomb until it has been rendered safe. The bomb should then be wrapped in a blanket and brought to the laboratory for further examination.
Responding policemen should also have the proper equipment for their safety, San Diego said.
Also part of the city?s preparedness for the long weekend is the deployment of some 1,700 policemen in key areas in the city, particularly in six of its cemeteries and major bus terminals.
San Diego reminded all bus passengers to always keep their belongings in check.
?See to it that you attend to your respective packages. Don?t leave your things unattended,? he added.
The entire Metro Manila police force went on heightened alert effective Wednesday and will go to full alert status on Friday.
