The Philippine National Police (PNP) announced plans Tuesday to integrate modern technology and international best practices into its crisis response operations to handle hostage-taking incidents and high-risk emergencies.

PNP chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the police force is updating its operational protocols to ensure tactical units are equipped with advanced tools, including potential applications for artificial intelligence.

“Every hostage situation is a race against time where lives are at stake,” Nartatez said during a briefing. “We must equip our personnel with the right skills, the right technology, and the right knowledge to make sound decisions when every second counts.”

The modernization initiative aligns with directives from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla instructing law enforcement to enhance operational capabilities against emerging security threats.

Nartatez directed the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group to conduct regular briefings for regional and local police offices to standardize hostage negotiation protocols nationwide.