Cops to help secure Asean summit
Members of the police's Special
Weapons and Action Tactics (SWAT) team
take part in an obstacle exercise in
preparation for the upcoming 12th
Association of South East Asian Nations
(Asean) Summit in Cebu City. Reuters
Six hundred newly-trained policemen from Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 had been sent to Cebu City as augmentation force for the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit on December 10-14.
Chief Supt. Geary Barias said the contingent is composed of new recruits and has just finished a six-month rigid police training.
Barias said the police force from Western Visayas will help in the maintenance of peace and order in Cebu as it hosts the historic meeting of Asean leaders.
The region's policemen will be under the command of Task Force Asean Summit.
Barias, however, assured that the sending of augmentation force in Cebu would not weaken the remaining police force in the region.
Massive preparations are underway for the holding of the Asean summit in Cebu.
Last week summit organizers conducted a dry run of the traffic scheme to be implemented on the duration of the summit.
The traffic rerouting will affect Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, and Mandaue cities.
Key events for the 12th Asean summit will be held at the newly finished P515 million Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) in Mandaue City while other meetings will be held at the Shangri-La's Mactan Island Resort & Spa, considered as the country's largest and most exclusive deluxe resort.
Earlier, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Director General Oscar C. Calderon ordered the suspension of gun-carrying privileges extended to some licensed firearm holders in all venues of the summit as part of security measures.
The PNP will provide security to delegates from 10 Asean member-states and at least seven other observer nations participating in the conference.
Calderon said elements of the Presidential Security Group will provide close-in security to heads of delegation.
The AFP Central Command, on the other hand, has formed Task Force Alalay that will serve as support group to Task Force Asean Summit and the Task Group Cebu.
The PNP will also provide security in all places of engagement particularly at the plenary sessions, the other venues where delegates are scheduled to hold official functions, and in hotel and billeting facilities.
The officials website of the 12th Asean summit also reported that hundreds of newly-acquired police patrol units, motorcycle escorts, tactical support vehicles, mobile communication units, and other equipment are already in place.
Security measures had also been set up in Cebu's various seaports and at the Mactan International Airport.
A “no permit no rally” policy would also be enforced during the summit.
Protesters would not be allowed to hold rallies in the streets and in vicinities near the venue of the meetings of the heads of states. Any mass action would be allowed only in areas designated by the Cebu City government.
This is the second time for the Philippines to host the meeting of Asean leaders. The first was during the 3rd Asean summit held in Metro Manila December 14-15, 1987.