NCRPO all set for 49th ASEAN Summit, says no threats monitored

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Saturday said it is all set for the upcoming 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits to be held in Manila.

"All-set na ang NCRPO para sa 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits para sa November 16-18," NCRPO spokesperson Police Lieutenant Colonel Hazel Asilo said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

(The NCRPO is all set for the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits on November 16-18.)

"Nakalatag na ang ating security arrangements at kasalukuyan din nating ipinatutupad ang mga kinakailangang security measures para sa kaligtasan ng mga delegado at ating mga kababayan," Asilo said.

(Our security arrangements are already in place and we are implementing security measures needed to ensure the safety of delegates and our countrymen.)

The NCRPO deployed more than 20,000 police personnel. Police forces from Regions 3, 1, and 4A will also be deployed as additional manpower.

"Mahigit 20,000 'yung ating police personnel para sa ating ASEAN deployment. Sa 20,000 po na ito, NCRPO lang po 'yan. Mayroon tayong mga nasa mahigit 4,000 na augmented mula sa iba't ibang regions. Merong galing sa Region 3, Region 1, maging sa (Region) 4A," Asilo said.

(More than 20,000 police personnel were assigned for our ASEAN deployment. This 20,000 are just from NCRPO. More than 4,000 personnel from other regions will augment this number. These will be from Region 3, Region 1, and even 4A.)

With regards to state leaders with their own security, Asilo said the Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) will coordinate with them.

"Pagdating du'n sa mga close-in security or mga VIP security na nakatutok sa ating mga delegate, nakatutok ang ating PSPG at sila ang in-coordination kung meron man silang dalang sariling security," she said.

(Our PSPG will coordinate with the close-in security or VIP security of our delegates.)

Asilo also said the International Media Center and other buildings are checked by K9 and the PNP Explosive and Ordnance Disposal (EOD) units.

"Kasama sa ating ginawang pagse-secure sa buildings na gagamitin sa ating ASEAN Summit ay ang ating mga K9, may mga EOD na from time to time nagko-conduct ng security sweep, inspection, paneling, para ma-ensure na ligtas ang mga delegates na darating," she said.

(As part of measures to secure the buildings to be used for the ASEAN Summit, our K9 and EOD units from time to time conduct security sweep, inspection, and paneling to ensure the safety of our delegates.)

No threats

Meanwhile, no threats were monitored regarding the ASEAN Summit, Asilo said.

"Wala naman tayong namo-monitor, validated threats patungkol sa ating ASEAN Summit, pero patuloy ang ating ginagawang intel monitoring at pag-aassess ng mga information na nakukuha natin," she said.

(We have not monitored validate threats against our ASEAN Summit, but we continue with intel monitoring and assessing information we receive.)

Rallies

Asilo said police forces will also be deployed to identified rally sites.

"Meron tayong mga identified na rally sites na dati na nating binabantayan even before ASEAN preparations," she said.

(We have identified rally sites that we have previously been monitoring even before ASEAN preparations.)

Asilo added that police personnel from other regions will be deployed to these rally sites.

"Kasama sa ating binigyan ng deployment itong mga identified rally sites. Dito rin tayo naglagay ng augmented personnel mula sa iba't ibang regions para ma-ensure na hindi lamang yung ating mga venues, mga billeting areas, mga ruta ang binabantayan natin. Mga lugar na posibleng magkaroon na pagtitipon, meron tayong mga naka-deploy na CDM (civil disturbance management) contingents," she said.

(We included the identified rally sites in areas for our deployment. These sites are also where we will deploy augmented personnel from other regions to ensure that we secure not just the venues, billeting areas and routes are monitored, but also places where there will be rallies. We have CDM units deployed.)

Asilo also said rallyists will not be allowed to get near the ASEAN Summit venues.

Instead, ground commanders will talk to rallyists and ask them to find another place where they can conduct their rallies peacefully.

"Pagdating sa kanilang pagpipilit na makapasok sa security restricted zones, magkakaroon ng pakikipag-usap sa kanila. Sa ngayon, hindi natin sila i-a-allow [mga magpoprotesta]. Ayaw naman natin na masira ang napakahabang preparasyon natin para sa hindi maayos na pagtitipon," Asilo said.

(If they will insist on entering security restricted zones, there will be dialogue. For now, we will not allow the protest [to get near the summit venues]. We do not want the long preparations to be disrupted by disorganized rallies.)

"Malayo pa lang (sila) kakausapin na sila ng ground commanders para mabigyan (sila) ng pagkakataon na makahanap ng ibang lugar na hindi maaantala o maaabala 'yung ongoing na summit," she added.

(While they are still afar, rallyists will be met by ground commanders who will ask them to look for another place where the ongoing summit will not be affected.)

The police force will observe maximum tolerance, Asilo said.

"Kasama sa mga deployed natin 'yung mga CDM contingent na haharap sa kanila (mga raliyista) with maximum tolerance. Hindi natin hahayaang maging magulo ang kanilang pagtitipon at yung pagpigil sa kanila," she said.

(The CDM contingents are included in our deployment. They will meet the rallyists and observe maximum tolerance. We will not allow that the conduct of the rallies will be disorderly.)

Signal jamming

There has been no advisory yet regarding signal jamming during the summit, Asilo said.

"Sa ngayon, wala pa tayong abiso kung magkakaroon ng signal jamming sa mga areas na magkakaroon ng mga meetings aligned with the summit," she said.

(For now, we do not have an advisory yet if there will be signal jamming in areas where there will be meetings aligned with the summit.) —KG, GMA News