So suited and booted we were driven through the city traffic to the main gate of the camp by our host club RC camp Crame. As we were waved through the entrance checkpoint and smartly saluted I knew that it was going to be an amazing day but nothing could prepare me for what followed. As we drove on we were met by hundreds of PNP officers in full dress all standing to attention. A brass band was playing and I thought "WOW!" They have really put a show on for us! I later found out that it was actually all for the visiting Russian ambassador but I like to think it was for us and I haven't shattered the illusion for my oppo Natalie yet. (Sorry N!)
We were then taken up to the conference room with the department for community relations and met up with the full RC Camp Crame team. At the time we were experiencing a brown out so small talk was made as the computer presentation couldn't be played. However it matters not as the host team were engaging and we had lots of questions.
The biggest theme that has emerged regarding the Ph and UK police has been that there is amazement that we do not carry sidearms. In the Ph all law enforcement are armed including private security, traffic wardens and pretty much anyone else. Interesting there is only around 300,000 licensed firearms in the QC area so I can only deduce that it is a problem with illegal unregistered guns. This is also a cultural thing due to the strong American influence in the Ph. Our hosts were amazed that we has not even held a gun let alone fired one. Immediately plans were put into action to rectify this and we were whisked to the camp range. This was a block with around 15 ranges all of rough ground and simple construction and we strolled down to the instructor stood in the centre of the last one beside a simple white plastic table which had on it our 14mm glock type pistol and a plant pot full of ammo! After a brief introduction it was down to business. I was volutold to go first (which I later found out was so Nat and Kate could study my 'form' and learn from my mistakes!) I was directed in stance and loading (no safety briefings here) and then allowed to take aim and fire. The report of the gun and recoil told me I had sent lead down range and I looked to see if I was on target. Much like when I take a golf shot, I had no idea where the bullet had gone which was worrying as the range we were at backed onto the residential streets outside! "Don't anticipate the bang" was all I heard from the instructor and I was directed to reload and shoot again. After clearing a couple of clips it was time to hand to Natalie. I will let Kate and Natalie update as the their experiences but as I watched Natalie shout wearing baseball cap and in out 'smart' clothes I was reminded of Clarice Starling from Silence of the lambs and when Kate started shooting I was being hit by flying spent brass! Needless to day that both were like trained killer! After pictures holding out targets it was handshakes all around and then off we went to the next stop. My reaction to shooting... It was amazing but has reinforced my strong conviction that I never ever wish to see the day where UK cops are routinely armed.
The next stop was a tour of their CSI facility. Think CSI Vegas and its a good comparison both in size and state of the art equipment. After admiring their AFIS system which analyses bullets (just like on CSI!) we were off again.
Next stop was to the Intelligence Group and a fascinating chat with the director of the Intelligence Group (think MI5/MI6). I can't tell you what was discussed as its all classified but suffice to say that the emerging threats are the same as the UK and we asked lots of questions which were all graciously answered.
Then we went for lunch and met the rest of our GSE team and found that Richard had been out campaigning and Amy had been to the too of a high rise under construction! I was quite jealous of them but then food was served and after an enjoyable meal we carried on with the tour.
A trip to the highways patrol group was next with us meeting the General in charge and an enjoyable chat sat in his office. All the time the accompanying photographers were snapping away as try had done all day and I felt like a minor celebrity. It may have been more down to my good looking colleague but I like to think we will be appearing on the front cover of some magazine even if it is that internal newsletter!
The highways patrol group were excited to show off some of there assets so we were immediately taken outside and I was sat on a 900cc patrol bike and whisked around on an educational tour of the camp with Gonzales as my driver. These bikes are BIG and POWERFUL and he drive it like it was no effort whilst giving a very polite running commentary. The camp is HUGE! It sprawls over a wide area and has schools, hospitals and is almost a Police town in its own right. I have nothing I can use as a reference point in the UK other than say it is like Catterick base!
Natalie then had the same experience and whilst she went off around the camp with the biggest grin, I spoke to the major who was hosting us as I knew she had been admiring the PNP metal badge on the smart uniforms of all the PNP officers. A quick request and I was assured it would be taken care of!
We both then were given an education in Police driving though the Manila traffic in the rear of a PNP squad car with two Police outriders in convoy. This was essential as it was all low speed and the bikes essentially forced a path for us through the very heavy traffic of cars, jeepneys and trucks. No sirens and I was amazed that no one moves aside for the cops on a blue light run.
Returning to the camp and receiving another smart salute we were finally taken to the PNP museum accompanied by all the senior officers we had met where we watched a video presentation (whilst being photographed doing so!) and the.had many photos and handshakes with our assembled RC guests and PNP chiefs of staff and officers. I will blog more about the museum later.
Returning to the conference room where it all began I was pinching myself as it had been an amazing and informative day and my little pea brain was processing everything I had experienced.
Gifts were exchanged and the RC team were extremely happy to receive out 'bobby' bust which had quickly been christened Robert Peel and had been a cause of excess baggage weight concern. He and other Cheshire Constabulary goodies will now hopefully adorn the PNP museum (Perhaps with a photograph of the crazy Brits that brought them, I would like to think). And then the hosts issued Natalie and I with PNP cloth badge and shield. I love things shiny so this was a treat but Natalie was beaming. She was sternly warned about arresting people and we made our thank you's and as we left we sat back and took everything in that we had seen.
No time to rest though as it was back to RC HQ at the Rotary centre and our first multi club meeting. This was a great evening with us delivering our presentation which was received well and our first chance to watch the Australian VTT team do their presentation to. It was from this meeting that the AU / UK rivalry between Steale and I began. All in good humour tho...! All presentations done the Australian were auctioning off an Ozzie rucksack so to increase the bidding value I shouted to Claire that if someone bid 2500 we would get up and Zumba (it seemed a good idea at the time given the great reception Natalie had got to the news she is a Zumba instructor). Needless to say that money was raised and we did get up and shatter any illusions that we were straight laced and buttoned down Brits!
Many photos taken later and promises if more Zumba at the district Conference made it was time to go.
At around midnight I arrived back and my hosts family and I fell into bed to grab some much needed sleep.
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