Manila, Sept. 22 -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday disclosed new measures to strengthen its response to hostage-taking incidents and other high-risk emergencies by integrating technology and proven practices from other countries into its crisis response system.

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the changing security environment requires the police force to continuously improve how it handles situations that demand careful negotiation, sound judgment, and coordinated action.

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