40T troops to secure ASEAN meeting
The government will deploy a 40,000-strong security team for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit this week.
"What you see here now, this is just a portion ng total 40,000 na ide-deploy natin this 30th ASEAN Summit this coming Friday, Saturday up to Sunday," Interior and Local Government Acting Secretary Catalino Cuy said during the send-off ceremony for the security team on Sunday at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, Manila.
National Capital Region Police Office spokesperson Chief Inspector Kimberly Molitas said at least 9,000 security personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippine and the Philippine National Police were present during the send-off ceremony.
The AFP's security contingent includes the Philippine Air Force and the Philippine Navy.
Cuy said that those present during the ceremony was only a portion of the actual security team for the ASEAN meet.
"But even if this is a portion, from where we are, this is impressive," he said.
In his speech, Cuy reminded the security team of their "zero incident" target.
Cuy was joined by PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa and other top police officials during the send-off ceremony.
ASEAN leaders and hundreds of delegates are expected to attend the summit which will be held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on April 26 to 29.
Ambassador Marciano Paynor, Director-General for Operations of the ASEAN 2017 National Organizing Council, said at least 2,000 delegates are expected to arrive for the summit this week.
Paynor added that nine ASEAN leaders have also confirmed their attendance to the summit.
President Rodrigo Duterte will hold bilateral meetings with Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Indonesian President Joko Widodo at the sidelines of the summit.
Malacañang has suspended work and classes in Metro Manila on April 28 for the summit.
In a press conference after the send-off ceremony, Cuy said that law enforcement agencies have yet to receive specific threats to the summit.
"Wala pa tayong specific threats," he said.
He added that during the security planning for the summit, they considered all possible threats, including the Abu Sayyaf group.
More than 10 Abu Sayyaf members, led by the group's sub-leader Muamar Askali alias Abu Rami, slipped into Bohol province days before the ASEAN events on Panglao Island.
Joint teams from the PNP and the AFP killed six of the bandits, including Askali, during the initial clash in Inabanga town. On Saturday, troops killed four more in Clarin town.
Paynor, meanwhile, said during the press briefing that the AFP, PNP and other law enforcement agencies "are ready" against any threats that may arise during the summit.
Cuy said the 9,000 security men is only part of the actual security deployment for the ASEAN summit.