Security tightened for ASEAN Summit
PHILIPPINE AUTHORITIES will be on full alert as the country hosts the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Manila in November — suspending a permit for citizens to carry firearms from Nov. 1-15 — even as they said there is “no clear or imminent danger on any planned terrorist attack.”
In a briefing on Thursday, National Capital Region Police Chief Oscar D. Albayalde said 33,086 police personnel will be deployed all over Metro Manila, which together with Clark, will host the regional summit from Nov. 13 to 15.
The vicinity of the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), where the meetings will be held, as well as Sofitel, and the Cultural Center of the Philippines, will be cordoned off.
“Probably from Nov. 10, sarado na ’yan (Probably from Nov. 10 those will be shut down),” Mr. Albayalde told a briefing in Malacañang.
“We will be augmented by Police Regions I to V, Cordillera, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines... the full deployment of our contingents will be from Nov. 10 to 15 or until the last delegate depart our country,” he said.
Authorities are also monitoring “possible retaliatory attacks from threat groups supportive of the Maute-ISIS and possible isolated atrocities from the CPP-NPA-NDF to embarrass the government.” However, Mr. Albayalde pointed out that government intelligence monitoring found “no clear or imminent danger on any planned terrorist attack that could disrupt” the event.
“Wala pa tayong na- identify. Pero meron tayong mga binabantayan. Pero wala pa talagang indications na talagang meron silang gustong gawin nang hindi maganda (We have not identified yet, but we are monitoring [individuals]. However, there are no indications that they plan to do something wrong,” he said.
As part of security preparation, Mr. Albayalde said Philippine National Police Chief Ronald M. dela Rosa has approved their bid to suspend permits to carry firearms starting from Nov. 1 to 15 in Metro Manila and Region III.
“With this, we continue to strengthen our intelligence fusion with other agencies… we continue to conduct joint exercises with other law enforcement agencies to ensure our readiness in any eventuality,” Mr. Albayalde said.