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Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Police offers security for militants’ summit
If militant groups will hold their own summit at the same time as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), they might as well discuss their plans with the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7.
Chief Supt. Silverio Alarcio Jr. said he is willing to “touch base” with militant groups and provide the same kind of security they will be giving to the delegates of the Asean summit in December.
This came after police learned of a plan to hold a separate Asia-Pacific Conference for the duration of the summit.
“If their intention is not to disrupt but to hold a peaceful meeting, we might as well discuss things with them in order to make their meeting productive,” Alarcio told radio dyLA yesterday morning.
Bayan Cebu chairman Paul Rodriguez confirmed that they are organizing a parallel gathering during the Asean summit, but the participants from other countries are going to give funds so they do not need to resort to extortion activities.
He made the statement a day after the police presented to the media two suspected rebels they arrested for alleged extortion of companies to fund their counter-activities in December.
Asked if they will not have trouble providing security with most of the preparations for the Asean summit in place, Alarcio said they could always request other regions and the national police headquarters for augmentation.
“Our job is to provide security for everybody,” Alarcio said.
He will be checking who the organizers for this other conference are and will ask one of his officers to offer their help.
He also downplayed reports that communist rebels planned to “create havoc,” saying the only report they got was to hold a similar meeting as the Asean summit.
At Cebu City Hall, Mayor Tomas Osmeña welcomed the reported plan of left-leaning groups to hold a conference in December, saying he doesn’t think it is illegal.
“We have to carefully draw the line between what’s right and wrong. But holding a separate Asean summit is not illegal per se. I don’t think it’s illegal as long as it’s peaceful and they do not destroy public property,” he told reporters yesterday.
“Extortion is another thing but solicitation for a conference, that’s okay, I get that every day. That’s why I said we have to draw the line,” he continued.
If the planned gathering pushes through, Osmeña said the organizing committees and the host local government units of the Asean summit will have to be extra careful in their preparations.
The mayor added, though, that he is more concerned about terrorists coming to the city during the Asean than the rebel groups operating here.
For his part, Regional Director for Operations Lani-o Nerez said it is good that they learned of the plan to hold a separate conference early, so they can make adjustments for their security preparations.
Nerez said they were not just preparing for the activities in December, but related activities in the coming months.
He said that out of more than 80 meetings, 50 will be held in Cebu.
At the 888 News Forum held at the Parklane Hotel yesterday morning, Nerez declined to go into details of their contingency measures for all activities related to the summit.
Nerez, deputy of the security task force for the Asean summit, the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Presidential Security Group and all other agencies have all been assigned to different crisis management committees. (MEA/LCR)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (September 6, 2006 issue)
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