After clashes, 1,000 more cops deployed

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has added at least 1,000 more policemen, some of them are police commandos, to help secure the venues for the 31st ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Summit and even the streets near the venue, after 28 cops were injured in violent confrontations with protesters. NCRPO Director Oscar Albayalde said the augmentation forces, particularly the Special Action Force (SAF), are deployed in hotels where the delegates are billeted and the venues of the meetings. Meantime, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) urged motorists to avoid Roxas Boulevard today following reports that rallyists would stage a protest along the thoroughfare. Emmanuel Miro, head of MMDA Task Force Asean, said they extended closure of Roxas Boulevard from P. Burgos Avenue to Buendia. (Aaron B. Recuenco and Anna Liza VillasAlavaren)