Hostage-takers ‘siege’ Kalibo town hall

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

‘Hostage-takers’ eventually surrendered but shot dead two civilians inside the Kalibo municipal town hall in simulated drills of authorities on June 22.

                        PHOTO AKLAN FORUM JOURNAL

The authorities were holding a simulation exercise (SIMEX) designed to test the capabilities of local police and its support units and how to respond and to manage crisis and emergencies like hostage-taking.

In the incident, two suspects, armed with a shotgun and a caliber .45, had taken civilian employees as hostages in more than one-hour standoff. A grenade explosion also erupted at the lobby entrance of Kalibo town hall to simulate a ‘hostage-taking’ situation.

The civilians including those injured were ‘rescued’ by heavily-armed police and soldiers who stormed the town hall after a stand-off. Then, the hostage-takers gave up and detained for further investigation.

A crisis management task group was also activated during the hostage drama involving the personnel of Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Kalibo, Philippine Army 12th Infantry Battalion, Aklan Provincial Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), Explosives and Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and Kalibo municipal police station.

Emergency responders of Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) and Scene of Crime Operatives (SOCO) also joined the simulation exercise on Thursday afternoon.

On the other hand, police and military in the province of Aklan are on full alert following the Maasin, Iloilo police station raid of New People’s Army (NPA), firefight of communist rebels and government forces in Leon, Iloilo and the ongoing Marawi crisis in Mindanao.

The article was originally published by independent online blog Aklan Forum Journal. The unrestricted use in print or radio, publication and distribution of articles are allowed provided the original author and Aklan Forum Journal are credited.