CADET ATTACHMENT PROGRAM PHASE 3

CASE-BASE SCENARIO

On the last day of January 2023, after returning from our Station Immersion, we were introduced to Phase 3 of our Cadet Attachment Program, which is the Case Base Scenario. In this set-up, we will apply the things we learned from our immersion, having mock stations wherein we, the cadets, will act as personnel of a typical Police station.

We were then divided into four groups, each representing a Police station, namely; Imus, Dasmarinas, and Bacoor City Police station, to include the Provincial Mobile Force Company. All cadets were designated as personnel, from the Chief of Police up to the different section heads and section personnel. After the said groupings, we were introduced and briefed on what will we do when the activity started. We were facilitated by our upperclassmen, who showed their full support and total effort in performing their task and guiding us towards the last day of our activity. As police officers and personnel, we do not know when such crimes and situations occur, and it taught us to be always alert and ready to respond. Aside from our different taskings, we also conducted regular DPAR, checkpoints, OPLAN-SITA, OPLAN KAPKAP BAKAL, and many other PCAD activities such as PULISTENIKS, Barangay visitations, and information dissemination.

BUY-BUST OPERATION

The buy-bust operation was our first scenario wherein there was information that illegal drugs were being sold by two unidentified men within our area of responsibility. For us to succeed in this operation, we first identified the sections and the personnel involved. Through intelligence, we gathered information and tried to locate the said suspects. Our intelligence operatives accomplished the test-buy operation wherein we verified that the information was accurate. We got their contact and established their trust in us as we planned the buy-bust operation's next step. Planning the buy-bust operation was crucial because one wrong move would mean failure. We designated our intel operatives as our poseur-buyer and arresting officers. Next, we also prepared the witnesses, who are the media and elected officials. We also have our marked money, which plays a significant role wherein once operatives give the marked money to the suspects, it would be the sign for them to arrest the said drug personalities. When we arrested the suspects, we immediately documented the pieces of evidence caught and the proper observance of the chain of custody so that the higher authorities would not question our operation.

We next made the complete case folder wherein our investigation section took responsibility. In this scenario, we learned that many PNP personnel have administrative cases due to improper execution of the arrest and mostly the chain of custody of the evidence. In such operations, we should always be proper and not take shortcuts, for it may cost us our careers. We are also thankful to our professor for teaching us how to deal with drug personalities, handle cases, and properly file documents.

VAWC

The following scenario was a Violence against Women and Children case wherein a lady came to our station looking pale and abused. We then directed our Women's desk to entertain the complainant. Issues on women like this must be confidential, and only women PNP personnel must be the ones to interrogate and ask for the details. We found out that the complainant was abused by her husband. We figured out that we needed to calm her to gain her trust, so our actions were to comfort her and give her food and assurance that she was safe with us. Our women's desk told her that we would immediately take appropriate actions on this complaint and send officers to gather information within their residence.

We later confirmed that her husband was a drunkard and drug user when the wife/complainant went to our station for the second time to inform us that there was still maltreatment. The husband also threatened the complainant that if she did not come home within a given time, he would leak their sex video. We were alarmed that we went to their residence to check what was happening and let them agree which would benefit them both.

I learned from this situation that issues concerning women and children are so confidential that their blotter book is not for the public to be shown, unlike the regular blotter book of a police station which is open to the public and media. To know the details of such complaints, we should comfort and learn to establish their trust towards us. We should learn to put ourselves in their shoes because we do not know what they are going through, which is a sensitive topic for them.

CAMP DEFENSE

The following scenario was the camp defense, wherein armed rebels attacked our station at midnight, wherein personnel was already tired and sleepy. For us in the station, we have assigned personnel who will act as duty guards with designated hours, and other personnel would have ample time to nap. Our camp defense plan was organized by our Chief Operations, who designated us in different positions on the station to prevent rebels from overtaking the station, and the protocols were to be observed once the situation occurred.

This would be a vital lesson for young lieutenants who will be assigned in places such as far-flung areas like Mindanao, where terrorist groups infest areas. We would have the knowledge and ideas to counter such attacks and position ourselves to have the advantage in the said situation.

PATROLLING and INTERNAL SECURITY OPERATION

In this scenario, we are given different locations to hit by foot patrolling, and we should not be detected by not taking the roads and not walking on streetlights. This would help us as future team leaders who patrol day and night in places where different terrorist groups are present. The last scenario was infiltrating the location where the terrorists were present; it was a joint operation from the four (4) stations, as mentioned earlier, wherein different roles were given to each station.

The operation was successful due to the planning and coordination of the Chiefs of Police, including the Force Commander. We remembered the tactics we learned during our BISOC training about infiltrating such locations and conducting raids. It also taught us how to be functional and efficient even if we lack sleep because, in actual operation, it will take days or even weeks to be successful in such operations.

HOSTAGE-TAKING NEGOTIATION

In this situation, knowing how to handle such a crisis is very important. We should also delegate Incident Commander and different sections that are needed in such a situation. Here, we can apply the Incident Command System so that there would be a flow and that it would be easier to address the needs in such incidents. We learned from the situation that it is not always assault and that in scenarios like hostage-taking, we could always be at an advantage because time is in our hands. Communication skills should be the most vital skill needed because it would dictate how the incident would turn out. We should also know how to negotiate terms to our advantage so that we can give what they demand in exchange for persons in danger. We should be decisive and always think of the greater good, and it made us realize that the real McCoy is much more dangerous and that there would be no other takes or practice to make it successful.

BOMBING INCIDENT

Through this experience, I have learned that we should constantly be vigilant, alert, and conscious that criminals could lurk at any moment of the day. We had a great experience during this scenario because there was the presence of the EOD/K-9 Team, and it felt real when IEDs were exploding everywhere. It was an excellent experience because I called in the K-9 Team due to an unattended motorcycle vehicle that an unknown person suspiciously parked at the bridge in the middle of a sunny day. I reported it because there would be a scenario where foreign delegates would tour the whole camp. I was the duty officer responsible for the area where the motorcycle was present.

Fortunately, it turned out to be a false alarm and had been marked as negative from the bomb. I learned to be very scrutinizing whenever there are unattended items that may contain IEDs or bombs that would endanger many innocent lives. I also felt the responsibility of being an officer with subordinates with me, that I would not risk endangering their lives just because of not being observant.