18,000 cops to be deployed for ASEAN meetings –NCRPO chief

Some 18,000 policemen will be deployed to secure the venues of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations meetings in Metro Manila, a Philippine National Police (PNP) official said Tuesday.

PNP National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Oscar Albayalde said aside from police personnel from Metro Manila, there will be augmentation forces from Regions 1, 3, and 4A.

"Iyong uniformed police personnel to be deployed during the whole duration is more or less 15,000 to 18,000.  We will have augmentations from PROs 1, 3 and 4a. And we are still on full alert status," he said in a text message to reporters.

In an interview with GMA News TV’s Balitanghali, Albayalde said a total of 26,000 personnel will be deployed, including those from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other agencies.

"Itong mga pulis ay nakahanda na lahat and also the different agencies ng ating pamahalaan kung saan around 26,000 ang mai-involve na personnel dito coming from the PNP and AFP and all other agencies ng government,” he said.

The ASEAN events that will be held in the Philippines include:

• the 30th ASEAN Summit in April;
• the 50th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and related meetings coinciding with ASEAN’s 50th anniversary celebration in Metro Manila in August, and
• the 31st ASEAN Summit in Clark, Pampanga in November

Albayalde said simulation exercises will be conducted next week for the movement of the ASEAN delegates. 

"Magkakaroon tayo ng simulation exercises starting next week, ‘yung mga pagdating at pagpunta sa venue,” he said.

Albayalde added that they have not monitored any terror threat in Metro Manila, but they are preparing for crime incidents and monitoring threat groups following the arrest of suspected members of ISIS.

"Wala tayong natatanggap na threat. Ang tinitignan namin ay yung criminality sa NCR. Tinitignan din ‘yung threat ng threat groups from Mindanao. As we all know meron tayong nahuling dalawang miyembro ng ISIS sa Taguig area.  We are not taking for granted yung posibleng threat sa NCR," he said.

Albayalde was referring to couple Husayn Al-Dhafiri, a Kuwaiti man, and Rahaf Zina, a Syrian woman, who were arrested in Taguig City last month. Al-Dhafiri has already been deported while a deportation order has already been issued against Zina.

Albayalde said they are coordinating with their foreign counterparts for information that may help in their security preparations.

"Meron tayong closed coordination with our foreign counterparts," Albayalde said. "Actually malaking naitulong nila sa pagkaaresto ng dalawa na ‘yun. The intelligence agencies ng mga gobyerno merong tinatawag na intelligence fusion for peace."

He said they are also asking the public to provide information on any incident they would witness.  —KBK, GMA News