MANILA Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada directed the Manila Police District to finalize the security measures for next month’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit, including the retraining of the policemen assigned to provide security to world leaders and foreign delegates.
Highlighting the importance of this gathering of prominent heads of states and VIPs, including US President Donald Trump, Estrada considers the Asean conference as the biggest meeting to be hosted by the Philippines and the City of Manila.
“Important issues will be discussed during this meeting of world leaders so we have to do our part in ensuring that there will be zero incidents during the conduct of Asean activities,” Estrada said.
In coordination with national and regional security and law enforcement agencies, the Manila mayor reminded the Manila Police District to see to it that its security measures were foolproof to guarantee the safety and security of all delegates and participants and facilitate the uninterrupted conduct of all Asean activities.
MPD director Chief Supt. Joel Coronel, in an interview, said 2,500 policemen—half of the city police’s total armed strength—would be committed to the Asean event starting on the first week of November up to the leaders’ meetings on Nov. 13 to 15.
They will be part of the 19,000-strong police security contingent belonging to
Task Group Manila Shield, formed to secure the Asean summit from terrorist groups and criminal rings.
As tasked by Estrada, Coronel said each unit would be undergoing refresher training on area security, billet security, route security, communication, and civil disturbance management.
“As early as Nov. 10, 11, 12, we will be putting in place our security plans. We will have a wide security deployment,” Coronel bared.
Most of the Asean meetings and events, according to Coronel, would be held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex, especially at the Philippine International Convention Center; VIP convoys would also regularly pass through Roxas Boulevard and other major roads in the city.
World leaders and foreign delegates will also be billeted in five big hotels in the city, namely Manila Hotel, Manila Diamond Hotel, New World Manila Bay Hotel, Pan Pacific, and Century Park Sheraton, he added.
Coronel assured the MPD’s security contingent would be in full defensive status 24/7 although they have not received any threat alert from other security agencies regarding any possible terrorist activity during this period.
Addressing the public, Coronel warned that security would be extra tight, especially in and around the meeting venues and billeting areas of VIPs and delegates in Manila.