791 cops to guard convoy of APEC heads of state, delegates
MANILA, Philippines — The Police Security and Protection Group will be deploying almost 800 policemen for the security convoy of the delegates to next week’s Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
The security arrangements for the delegates and ministers’ convoy will also cover their spouses flying in for the event.
Almost a hundred BMW and Nissan sedans have been readied for the use of the dignitaries, while 50 mobile patrol cars and 100 motorcycles will be used as security escorts.
“Our deployment is in full swing as far as the Task Group Delegate Security is concerned. The PSPG is ready for deployment 100 percent,” said Supt. Rogelio Simon, PSPG spokesperson.
So far, 791 personnel will be deployed for the security convoy of the ministers and their spouses.
Majority of the personnel will be coming from the PSPG, which pulled out almost 700 policemen from their security detail with other personalities.
Simon explained that the 791 personnel would be apart from the 282 personnel of the Highway Patrol Group and the 69 personnel from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority who were deployed to augment the PSPG’s forces.
Simon said 50 BMW sedans have been readied for the use of the ministers while their spouses and liaison officers would use 50 Nissan sedans.
Each convoy will have a minimum of three cars – with the liaison officer’s car coming in first, followed by the minister’s car, and with a mobile patrol coming in last. Each convoy will be accompanied by at least two motorcycle escorts.
The liaison officer will be accompanied with an official driver from the HPG, while the minister will have an official driver and security officer from the PSPG.
Spouses, on the other hand, will be accompanied by a motorcycle escort.
Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines has raised its alert level to blue alert, particularly its troops involved in security preparations for the APEC.
Col. Noel Detoyato, the AFP public affairs office chief, has said they will raise their alert level to red once the PNP goes on full alert, the highest alert level, just before the APEC.
“Whatever the alert level of the PNP is, since they are the lead agency in security preparations, we will also follow,” said Detoyato.
The blue alert means that 50 percent of the troops will be confined to the camps so that they can be deployed anytime to the APEC summit.
The military’s civil disturbance management units from the National Capital Region Command will be also deployed to help the PNP in crowd management.
Detoyato explained that they could also recall soldiers on vacation if the circumstances called for it.
“We have a substantial number of men ready for APEC security but I cannot give you the exact number. Rest assured we have enough to support the lead agencies and at the same time maintain our internal security operations,” he said.
So far, both the PNP and the AFP have not yet monitored any security or terrorist threat that may affect next week’s APEC summit.
The Pasay City police station will be sending 478 policemen to the SM Mall of Asia Arena to secure the area where APEC activities will be held as well.
On November 18, an additional 466 policemen will be deployed to the area to act as augmentation security for the welcome dinner for delegates, ministers, and other dignitaries, according to the Pasay City Police chief, Senior Supt. Joel Bargamenti Doria.
The police official added that the Pasay City government did not issue any rally permit for those wanting to hold protests against the APEC.
“We have CDM personnel in place to prevent protesters from entering the SM MOA area, which is also a private area so they won’t be allowed there. They won’t be allowed to congregate,” Doria said.
He assured the public that they would strive for a zero-crime incidence during the summit.
Doria said policemen would be stationed every 100 meters along the routes to be used by the delegates from the airport to the hotel, to heighten police visibility.
Meanwhile, call center agents working in the SM MOA area and along Macapagal Boulevard can go to work using government designated buses, which will pick up workers in the areas of Buendia Taft, Pasay EDSA rotunda, and the Coastal Mall. SFM
