OVER 33,000 security personnel will be deployed for the Philippines' hosting of 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit and Related Meetings in November, National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Oscar Albayalde said on Thursday.
Albayalde said the government is doubling its efforts to ensure the Asean meetings that will be held from November 10 to 14 in Manila and Pampanga would be "peaceful and incident-free."
"We will be deploying a total of 33,086 police personnel [for 31st Asean meet]," the NCRPO chief told a press conference in Malacañang.
"It is our prayers that as we have recorded zero crime-incident with the 203 concluded meetings in [Manila], this final event will be as peaceful and as incident-free as we complete the hosting of the 31st summit,” he added.
The 31st Asean fora, which will be held simultaneously in Manila and in Clark, Pampanga, will be attended by around 21 world leaders, including the most powerful nations United States, China, and Russia.
Albayalde cited reports from the intelligence community that there was no imminent threat or any possible terror attacks.
He, however, noted that the current administration was not discounting the possibility that there might be retaliatory attacks, following its successful liberation of Marawi City from the hands of Islamic State (IS)-linked Maute terror group.
He likewise said that the government was prepared for any possible attacks by members of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), New People’s Army (NPA), and National Democratic Front (NDF), whose peace dialogue with the state peace negotiators was scrapped.
"As of this time, our intelligence monitoring shows no clear or imminent danger or any planned terrorists attack that could disrupt this historic event. But the threat of terrorism remains due to retaliatory attacks from threat groups supportive of the Maute/Isis, and possible isolated atrocities from the CPP/NPA/NDF to embarrass the government,” Albayalde said.
“With this, we continue to strengthen our intelligence fusion with other agencies, as well as our target hardening measures, and we continue to conduct joint exercises with other law enforcement agencies to ensure our readiness in any eventuality,” he added.
Albayalde said there would be checkpoints and temporary lockdowns on “critical areas” to ensure the safety and security of heads of state who will be participating in the Southeast Asian region’s conference.
He said roads along Philippine International Convention Center, Cultural Center of the Philippines, and Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City would be temporarily locked down starting November 10 to pave way for the event.
He added that the North Luzon Expressway lane from Clark, Pampanga to Manila would be on lockdown for nearly 20 minutes every time a foreign leader arrives for the Asean summit on November 11 and 12.
Albayalde said the Philippine National Police also suspended civilians’ permits to carry firearms outside of residence from November 1 to 15 and as part of the security measures.
He added that the security personnel would monitor “crime-prone” areas, including Parañaque, Quiapo, Baseco compound, and enclaves in Maharlika, to thwart the possible hostile activities that will be perpetrated by criminals.
The NCRPO head said Task Group Manila, which he will supervise, would secure the venues, routes, and billets of world leaders and delegates to maintain public order during the entire summit.
He said the task group would be securing 16 hotels, five venues and various routes where participants will be passing through.
"We solicit the cooperation, patience, and understanding of the general public as we conduct checkpoints, temporary lockdowns on this occasion. We likewise ask the public to be actively vigilant and report to authorities anything that is out of the ordinary," Albayalde said.
"We assure the public, both locally and internationally, that Metro Manila is safe and secured, and is ready to receive our distinguished [21] foreign leaders and more or less 3,000 delegates who will be gracing our country for the 31st Asean summit," he added. (SunStar Philippines)