Thousands mobilized to secure ASEAN summit in Indonesia

JAKARTA, Indonesia—Seven thousand Indonesian police and soldiers have been mobilized to secure the 18th Association Southeast Asian Nations Summit here, according to information provided by Malacañang.

The contingent includes 4,385 police strategically posted in the field to secure the Jakarta Convention Center, the Soekarno-Hatta airport and the hotels of the Asean leaders, officials and other delegates.

President Benigno Aquino III is scheduled to participate in the Asean Leaders’ Summit over the weekend. He flies to Jakarta Friday night.

Ambassador Wilfrido Villacorta, the country’s permanent representative to the Asean, said it was important for the Philippines to take an active role in the Asean summit.

“Ang Pilipinas ang nangunguna sa pagpupunyagi ng konsepto ng people-oriented ASEAN, isang organisasyon na hindi lamang nagsisilbi sa kapakanan ng mga gobyernong bumubuo nito ngunit isang organisasyon na nakatutulong sa kabutihan at kapakanan ng mga taong bumubuo nitong mga bansang ito (The Philippines is the leading proponent of a people-oriented Asean, an organization that does not serve only the interests of the member countries’ governments but an organization that advances the welfare of the people of these countries),” Villacorta said.