Over 17,000 security personnel to be posted across Metro Manila for SEA Games

Senior officers of the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Fire Protection, and other government agencies pose for a photo shortly after the send-off ceremony at Camp Bagong Diwa on Thursday, November 21, 2019, for over 17,000 government personnel who will secure Metro Manila during the 30th SEA Games. Photo by Cathrine Gonzales / INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — A total of 17,734 security personnel from various government agencies will be deployed to secure Metro Manila in the coming days for the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

Forming the Task Group Metro Manila are personnel from the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Office of the Civil Defense, local government units, and other government agencies. The personnel were deployed after a send-off ceremony at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

The SEA Games, composed of 530 events of 56 sports, kicks off on November 30 and will end on December 11 in 39 venues across Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon), and La Union province.

Nineteen venues for 24 sports are located in Metro Manila.

An estimated 9,840 participants are expected to join the SEA Games.

The Philippine National Police said a component of the task group was already deployed days before the send-off ceremony was held at the headquarters of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) since some foreign participants have started arriving in the country.

A bulk of the task group will be deployed in the coming days, the PNP said.

PNP officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa said there is no threat being monitored for the SEA Games.

“But the evaluation continues. We don’t stop evaluating,” he said in a press briefing.

In his speech during the ceremony, Gamboa said the active participation of the security personnel for the send-off speaks of their dedication to ensure a safe and successful hosting of the SEA Games.

“The 30th SEA Games event calls for the active participation and collaboration of every concerned entity not only to ensure its success but rather to deliver the best SEA Games 2019 edition, beating the high expectation of our counterparts,” he said.

“This international event will be another opportunity for all of us especially in the law enforcement sector to showcase our best practices in planning and managing sport events at par with world-class standards,” the police official added.

Gamboa then urged security forces to work hard to ensure that no untoward incident will happen during the hosting of the SEA Games.

Over 20,000 police personnel will be deployed in different areas across Luzon to enforce security measures for the biennial event.

Edited by MUF, JE