PNP places Regions I, III, IV-A, NCRPO under full alert for SEA Games

The Philippine National Police (PNP) raised the full alert status in some regions to ensure security for the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, its spokesman said on Monday.

"In relation to SEA Games, full alert status is now placed over police regional offices in Regions I, III, IV-A and NCRPO and national support units effective 8 in the morning today that will last until December 14, 2019," Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac told reporters.

Banac said other police regional offices would be on heightened alert for the entire duration of SEA Games.

PNP Officer-in-Charge Police Lieutenant General Archie Francisco Gamboa leads the send-off ceremony of TG Central Luzon on Tuesday, November 19, 2019 to secure the 30th Southeast Asian Games. PNP PIO

According to Banac, the PNP Highway Patrol Group will deploy a total of 101 motorcycles and 20 mobile patrol units with 175 personnel to ensure security among delegates.

Banac further said the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority would deploy 22 motorcycle units while a total of 519 personnel from the Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG) will also help in ensuring peace and order during the occurrence of sports activities.

The PNP spokesman earlier bared 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.

Around a thousand foreign athletes arrived over the weekend, Banac said.

The poor reception reportedly experienced by some of the athletes upon their arrival drew flak from critics.

The Palace as well as the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee already apologized for it.

The PNP has said at least 27,000 policemen and force multipliers will be deployed for the SEA Games. —KG, GMA News