Manila on high alert amid reports of terror threat
MANILA: Philippine officials have assured that adequate security measures are in place — amid terror threats — to protect more than 20 world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, arriving in Manila next week for the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.
“Every possible threat scenario is being considered and every measure will be undertaken to protect the lives of the visiting heads of state,” Department of National Defense spokesman Arsenio Andolong told Arab News.
The White House had previously said that Trump, who is on a 12-day trip to Asia, would attend the special gala celebration of the 50th anniversary of the ASEAN and the ASEAN-US summit, on Nov. 12-13, but would depart on Nov. 14, skipping the East Asia Summit (EAS). On Friday, however, the US president said he would be extending his visit to the Philippines by one day to attend the EAS.
With the expected number of heads of state and other VIPs arriving in the country, Andolong stressed that security systems and procedures for the ASEAN Summit were planned more than a year ago and refined over the past several months.
“Simulations were done and part of the plan was implemented during the recent ASEAN defense ministers’ meeting (ADMM) and ADMM-Plus, which gave us the opportunity to fine-tune it even further,” he said.
One week ahead of the ASEAN Summit, the Australian Embassy on Friday issued a travel advisory reminding its citizens in the country to “exercise a high degree of caution” because “there is a high threat of terrorist attack in the Philippines, including Manila.”
The Defense Department and the Armed Forces of the Philippines said, however, that Australia’s Nov. 3 travel advisory should not be a cause for undue alarm. “It’s just a reiteration of an advisory released by the embassy in May of this year,” they said.
Andolong noted that issuing regular travel adviseries to citizens is a normal procedure for governments, through their embassies, especially in the spate of violent incidents all over the world in recent times.
“Of particular concern is the possibility of lone wolf terrorist attacks like what happened in the United States,” Andolong said, referring to the attack in Manhattan in New York on Wednesday, which authorities said was carried out by a Daesh sympathizer from Uzbekistan.
“I believe that’s one of their reactions to what happened recently in New York,” he said, adding that “there seems to be a pattern emerging.”
Malacanang Palace, where Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte is based, also assured the public there is no increased terror threat in the Philippines.
“The Philippine government has no information about any increased terror threat in the country. We assure our foreign friends that local authorities have been enforcing tight security measures, especially in populated areas, while we urge everyone to continue being aware of one’s surroundings,” the palace said in a statement.
“We reiterate that generally it is safe to work, study, do business, and travel in the Philippines,” it further said.
Meanwhile, about 60,000 soldiers and policemen will be deployed for the ASEAN Summit which begins on Nov. 10, the Department of Interior and Local Government said.
Road closures and partial and full lockdowns will also be implemented along routes where convoys of the delegates are expected to pass and in areas hosting the meetings.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said a “no-fly zone” would also be implemented in areas where the summit will be held.