LESSON 1

Crisis Management
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Crisis came from the Greek word crisis which means to separate or rupture also deriving from the same
origin words, critique and criterion. As defined by Funk and Wagnalls, crisis is a turning point in the progress
of an affair or a series of events. We can therefore say that crisis is a fact or circumstance or set of them that
produce a break, a before and an after and that can mean destruction of being animated or inanimate affected
by the crisis, or resurgence of her prior deliberation reasoned and judicious.

Ties of crisis are characterized because they cause anxiety and instability. The balance has been broken,
and the affected by it can recompose or definitely fall. If crisis are very profound changes, you can call
revolutions. For example, the political, economic and social crisis in France in the 18th century led to the French
Revolution.

There are facts that its gravity cause crisis or qualitative breaches deep in all sectors of the life of a
people, as happens with wards, compelling in the crisis that ensues to post-war to seek structural solutions.

The economy comes into crisis when resources are exhausted and cannot meet the demands. It can be
domestic business or state economy.

Political crisis occurs when a State Government loses legitimacy, i.e., when the authority is not
recognized by the governed.

The social crisis is when society is not lined or share positive values, plunged into the needs that cannot
meet and trying to survive each one as you in a selfish individualism.

Crisis can neither be avoided nor accurately predicted. When they occur in public sector, the community
rightly expects that their government’s response will minimize harm to life and limb and to the operations of
important public services, and restore the situation to normal as soon as possible.

Types of Crisis
Crisis or emergencies are either man-made or natural and are categorized as follows:

Man-made Crisis

1. Civil Disturbance
a. Labor strikes/demonstrations
b. Riots
c. Anarchy
d. Welga ng bayan (transport, fuel, etc)
2. Revolt
a. Mutiny
b. Insurrection
c. Coup d’etat
3. Revolution
4. Border incident
5. War
6. Kidnapping
7. Hijacking
8. Hostage-taking
9. Terrorists activities
10. Attacking/raids on government installations/facilities and vital facilities

Natural Crisis

1. Fire 9. Pestilence/epidemic’
2. Marine/air disasters 10. Floods
3. Structural collapse 11. Volcanic eruptions
4. Hazardous spills 12. Earthquake
5. Utilities failure (Power, water, telephone) 13. Tidal waves
6. Nuclear accidents 14. Typhoons
7. Food scarcity 15. drought
8. Fuel shortage

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Crisis Management is the expert handling of crisis or emergency to reduce or eliminate danger or damage, or
the like, especially on the part of government.

Objectives of Crisis Management

1. Resolve without further incident.
2. Safety of all participants.
3. Apprehension of al perpetrators.
4. Accomplishment the task within the framework of current community standards.

Theory of Crisis Management

1. Contain and negotiate
2. Protect the innocent from harm
3. Allow passage of time so that the perpetrators can be reasoned with through negotiation.
4. Allow the passage of time so that the response force can avail the following:
a. Evaluate the situation
b. Gather information
c. Explore alternatives
d. Formulate a plan of action

Crisis Management Techniques

1. Locate
2. Isolate
3. Evaluate
4. Evacuate
5. Eliminate

Phases of Crisis Management

Crisis Management is continuing activity that has two distinct phases: The proactive and the reactive
phase.

1) The Proactive Phase

The phase is designed to predict or prevent the probability of occurrence of crisis at the same
time prepare to handle them when they occur. It encompasses the first 3P’s of the 4P Crisis Management
Model: prediction, prevention and preparation.

1) Prediction – this stage involves foretelling of the likelihood of crises occurring either natural or
man-made through the continuous assessment of all possible threats and threat groups, as well
as the analysis of developing or reported events and incidents. Crisis incidents can be predicted
through updated inputs from intelligence reports as well as the continuous monitoring and
analysis of the confluence of related events.

In case of man-made crises/emergencies, and some natural crisis/emergencies, this

stage require continuous study of the targets of existing threats, specifically the threat groups,
their probable targets and the vulnerabilities of critical installations and facilities.

All threats and threat group should be considered whether they are internal or external
to any organization of facility.

2) Prevention – when most man-made crises/emergencies, this stage involves the institution of
passive security measures, as well as the remedy or solution of destabilizing factors and/or
security flaws leading to such crises/emergencies.

On the other hand, most natural crises/emergencies at this stage require vigilance and
alertness to signs and manifestations of developing crises/emergencies. Warning/alert systems
have to be established to increase the chances or odds of preventing the occurrences of
crises/emergencies. Preventive actions may well be applied to both natural and man-made
crises/emergencies to prevent them from developing to uncontrollable proportions.

3) Prepare – preparation for crises/emergencies entails planning, organization, training, and

stockpiling of equipment and supplies needed for such crises/emergencies. Simulated drills at
unspecified days times test the effectiveness of preparations bring out flaws and weakness, and
corrections/remedies effected to heighten level of readiness of system, procedures, organization,
equipment, and logistics to better cope with actual crises/emergencies.

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 2) The Reactive Phase – Performance

This phase covers the last of the 4Ps, performance, which is the actual execution or
implementation of any contingency plan when a crises situation occurs despite the pro-active measures.

The objectives in this stage are: to ensure a high probability of success in neutralizing the
perpetrator(s); to minimize or cushion the adverse effects of the crisis incident; and to ensure a smooth
and speedy rehabilitation or return to normalcy.

The performance of crisis management action for terrorist-based crisis management is done in
three stages:

1) Initial Action

All Unit Commanders are required to understand and acquaint themselves on Crisis
Management doctrine. As such they will be held responsible for all their actions. Any military/police
unit taking cognizance of a crisis incident shall immediately undertake appropriate actions to contain
the crisis situation and report the matter to the cognizant agencies through channels, regardless such
crisis situation is within or beyond its capability to handle.

The initial action includes monitoring of the progress of the incident, securing the scene,
protecting itself, establishing perimeter security, evacuating innocent civilians, if possible, security and
tactical elements/units augment its unit as they arrive. Other than the aforementioned tasks, the initial
action unit shall not engage in any tactical actions against the perpetrators except in its defense.

2) Action

The action phase begins as soon as the On-Scene Command Post (OSCP) is established and the
Tactical/Intervention, service support units, Negotiations Teams and the Public Affairs personnel arrive
and are deployed. The On-scene Commander (OSC) gradually relieves the initial action nit commander
and completes staffing of the OSCP. The OSC discusses the incident with the commanders and staff of
the units and agencies involved and plans what actions to take and establish positive contact with Crisis
Management Committee (CMC) to ensure that all his succeeding actions are cleared. The action phase
consists of two distinct activities; negotiation and tactical action/intervention which may take place
independently either simultaneously or in succession. In any case, however, both activities are under
the complete control and supervision of the On-scene Commander.

3) Post Action

This stage begins as soon as the perpetrators surrender, or when they are captured or neutralized
and the crisis situation is deemed cleared. The On-scene Commander ensures that necessary Post Action
activities are undertaken to restore normalcy and bring responsible to court.

LESSON 2
Hostage-Taking
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A hostage situation is a set of circumstances wherein a suspected law violator is holding a person
captive with the use of force and threat of violence while the police are in close contact with the suspect and
his captive.

Differences Between Hostage-Taking and Kidnapping

The differences between hostage-taking and kidnapping are, that in kidnapping:

1. The police are not aware of the captive’s location

2. The police are not in close contact with the perpetrators
3. The police cannot exert any pressure on the suspects

Motives in Hostage-Taking
1. In political terrorism, reasons include showing the public that the government is unable to protect its
own citizen.
2. Hostage-taking guarantees immediate media coverage, and after repeated hostage incidents, it is the
hope of the terrorist that the government might overreact and become excessively restrictive with its
own citizens, thus causing civil discontent and a grassroots movement to overthrow the government.
3. Warring nations seek peace after exchange of hostage as a guarantee of reciprocity.
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 4. In urban guerilla warfare, hostage are taken with little regard for law and order, holdups sometimes
involve hostages and certain guidelines of behavior must be laid down if the police is to effectively deal
with a hostage situation.
5. Law enforcement officers will most likely encounter hostage incident that involve either criminals or the
mentally-disturbed
a. If the hostage are taken in a criminal situation, it is usually because the criminal is unable to
complete the crime and escape before the police responds thus making hostage-taking a
spontaneous event.
b. The criminal’s primary reason for taking hostages is to ensure his own safety.
c. The demands are invariably for safe passage and a means of escape for the hostages lives
d. It is also very common for hostage-takers to demand ransoms
6. A husband or wife may take a child hostage in custody battles.
7. A mentally-disturbed person may take hostages in order to right what he believes to be wrong.
8. Whatever the initial reason for hostage-taking, it is clear the motive for holding hostages may change.
a. The act of robbing a bank may initially demand a great deal of money, but may later reduce this
demand for guarantee of physical safety or clemency in court
b. At other times, initial demands for an immediate change in a government policy or in a prison
may eventually change to an agreement for talks with the appropriate officials on these
conditions.
c. No matter what the original reason for taking hostages may be, it is not uncommon for the
hostage-taker, after some period of time, to be willing to accept a lesser goal.

Five Categories of Hostage Takers

1. Persons in Crisis – are people who take hostages during a period of prolonged frustration, despair and
problems.
2. Psychotics – ill people who take hostages during a period of psychiatric disturbance.
3. Common Criminals – are who take hostages for personal, rather than ideological reasons.
4. Prisoners – are who take hostages because of dissatisfaction and discontent regarding their living
conditions in prison.
5. Political Terrorists – are ideologically-inspired individuals or groups of people who take hostages because
of political and ideological beliefs.

Reasons Why Common Criminals Take Hostages

Criminals have three common demands:

1. Escape
2. Money
3. Transportation

Reasons Why Prisoners Take Hostages

1. Taking hostages offers better bargaining power and a significant amount of media coverage.
2. Prison riots generally center around complains concerning prison conditions and demands for
improvement.

Reasons Why Political Terrorists Take Hostages

1. Politically-motivated terrorists take hostages with the intent of getting as much as publicly as
possible for their cause.
2. The demand will normally go beyond the authority of the local police and may require the
involvement of the national government.
3. The likelihood of hostages being killed is very high since the terrorists may be prepared to die as
martyrs.