PNP chief vows continuous training to strengthen bomb response

Philippine National Police Chief P/Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. has committed to sustaining training programs aimed at enhancing the investigative and operational capabilities of police officers, particularly those responding to bomb threats and improvised explosive device (IED) incidents.

Nartatez made the commitment during the closing ceremony of the Improvised Explosive Device Threat and Security Symposium in Malay, Aklan, attended by police personnel tasked with responding to and investigating bomb-related incidents.

"The nature of threats and peace and order terrain are continuously evolving. We have to innovate and we have to continuously upgrade our knowledge and skills to ensure that we will be able to properly respond," Nartatez said.

"When it comes to peace and order and security, the Philippine National Police should always be updated and not left behind," he added.

The symposium followed a similar training program organized in Bohol in March 2026 by the Southeast Asian International Command in partnership with the Australian Federal Police.

This year's program expanded participation to more police investigators and personnel from bomb disposal and K-9 units at the regional and provincial levels.

According to Nartatez, the training covered the latest approaches in identifying, analyzing, and investigating bomb threats to strengthen case build-up and improve the prosecution of offenders. It also emphasized capability development, knowledge sharing, and coordinated responses among partner agencies.

"This activity is intended to equip our personnel with all the necessary skills to properly respond in the interest of peace and order and public safety," he said.

"Through this program, we are able to identify both our strong and weak points in order to further enhance our capability and equipage for various IED threats anytime and anywhere in the country," he added.

Nartatez said the PNP will continue pursuing similar local and international training programs across various fields of police operations and specialization.