Press Release

CHICAGO PCG CONTINUES CAPACITY BUILDING TO ADDRESS SAFETY AND SECURITY RISKS

12 September 2022, Chicago - Following the conduct of an Active Shooting Training Seminar organized by the U.S. Department of State, Office of Foreign Missions Chicago Regional Office and the Diplomatic Security Service held on 19 August 2022, an echo seminar was conducted by Consul Ryan Francis D. Gener and ATN Officer Eunika Lesli R. Leyva-Tiongco for Consulate personnel at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Consulate General in Chicago on 09 September 2022.

A screenshot from the video clip shown during the event
(culled from Ready Houston's RUN. HIDE. FIGHT.® Surviving an Active Shooter Event)

Consulate personnel were taught how to mentally and physically prepare for situations where there is an active shooter. Emphasis was given to the three options to survive such incidents – RUN, HIDE, and as a last resort, FIGHT. More importantly, situational awareness in a given context was stressed as essential in taking the proper course of action that optimizes survival. The echo training is also one of the Consulate’s initiatives to capacitate its personnel to manage security and safety risks, serving as a follow-up to the basic self-defense training conducted on 29 July 2022.

During the echo seminar, Consul General J. Susana V. Paez emphasized, “Although incidents involving active shooters may appear isolated, it is incumbent upon us to assume responsibility regarding our safety, to be vigilant, alert, and to have the presence of mind to know how to properly respond to such situations to be able to protect both our clientele and personnel.”

Ms. Consul General J. Susana V. Paez (center) with Chicago PCG officers and staff during
the Active Shooting Seminar at the Consulate’s Kalayaan Hall (Photo courtesy of Mr. Noly Dulay)