Around 1,000 athletes already in PHL for SEA Games —PNP

Around a thousand foreign athletes for the 30th Southeast Asian Games have arrived in the Philippines over the weekend, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday.

In an interview on Dobol B sa News TV, PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac said that a 27,000-strong police force is deployed in Ilocos region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Metro Manila to provide security to the delegates from the airport to their respective accommodations.

"Kung mayroon po silang gagawing rehearsals o practices sa mga venue ay bibigyan din natin sila ng mga escort," Banac said, adding that police assistance desks have been put up in establishments surrounding the athletes' hotels for security.

"So dini-discourage natin na isa-isa na maglalabasan... Kung sila po'y lalabas as a group ay mayroon ding security escorts at ito naman ay mga nakatalaga na sa mga commercial establishments ng mga lugar na recommended lamang na puntahan nila. Outside of that, of course, ay dini-discourage natin," Banac said.

The spokesman noted that 8,000 foreign delegates to the SEA Games are expected to stay in the country for the biennial sports event that will start on November 30 and end on December 11.

The poor reception reportedly experienced by some of the athletes upon their arrival drew flak from critics. Both the Palace and the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee have apologized for it.

Meanwhile, Banac reiterated that gun ban is effective until December 14 in the four regions that will host various SEA Games events.

"Sa lahat ng mga firearms holder, pansamantala po ay wag niyo munang dalhin ang inyong mga licensed na firearms upang hindi na rin kayo masita o hindi na rin kayo magpaliwanag," he said. —Dona Magsino/KBK, GMA News