Security plans for APEC leaders are threat-based – organizers

By KATHRINA CHARMAINE ALVAREZ, GMA News

Published November 12, 2015 11:11am

(Updated 11:15 a.m.) The security arrangements for the heads of state attending the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM) are uniform, but will be adjusted based on results of the assessment of threats especially for “high-risk” leaders, the organizing council said Thursday.

In a press briefing at the International Media Center, Ambassador Marciano Paynor Jr., director general of the APEC 2015 National Organizing Council, said the security of the 21 leaders, including President Benigno Aquino III, is being handled by the Presidential Security Group (PSG).

Security plan for APEC leaders depend on threat assessment - organizers

The security arrangements for the heads of state attending the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM) are uniform, but will be adjusted based on results of the assessment of threats especially for “high-risk” leaders, the organizing council said Thursday.

“The assignment for each of the leader, not only with President Xi Jinping but for everyone, including leaders of Hongkong, China and the representative of Chinese Taipei they will be accorded the same security package,” Paynor noted amid the concerns by Chinese authorities about the security their President.

“But we tweak the security arrangements depending on threat assessment on the particular leader that is coming,” Paynor added.

President Xi is attending the AELM amid the territorial dispute between China and Philippines over the South China Sea, parts of which Manila refers to as the West Philippine Sea.

The apprehensions were raised in a statement on Tuesday by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and were reiterated on Wednesday by Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jinhua, according to a report Wednesday on GMA News' "24 Oras."

"There are some concerns the Chinese ambassador raised, like some rallies directed particularly at the Chinese," PNP chief Director General Ricardo David told reporters in a briefing.

Paynor appealed to groups planning to hold anti-APEC rallies not to cause “undue embarrassment” to the leaders to be hosted by the Philippines.

“But as long as it does not impinge on security, then everyone is allowed to say his peace,” he added.

Paynor again called on the public for understanding the inconvenience the summit conference will likely cause next week, particularly the flow of traffic in some areas of Metro Manila.

“There is no doubt that many of us will be inconvenienced but that is part of hosting... The policy is when the leaders move, there should be no traffic moving also,” he said.

The Philippines last hosted the APEC summit in 1996. – VS/TJD, GMA News

Tags: apec2015, apecsecurity