The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has said that it is taking “preemptive measures to prevent or detect any signs that terrorists are planning an attack” in Metro Manila.
“The NCRPO is ready and will once again showcase its competency and operational capabilities in hosting international events, particularly [in ensuring] the safety and security of all the delegates of the Asean Tourism Forum,” NCRPO chief Director Joel Pagdilao said.
Chief Supt. Billy Beltran, head of Task Group (National Capital Region) which is responsible for security in the metropolis during the ongoing Association of Southeast Asian Nations Tourism Forum (ATF) in Pasay City, issued the statement as the Philippine National Police went on full alert following the recent terror attack in Jakarta, Indonesia.
“[We ask] for cooperation and encourage the public to report any suspicious person or activity to the nearest police station or [to] contact the PNP hotline 117 or NCRPO contact numbers 8383203, 0915-8888181 and 0999-9018181,” Beltran said.
Concerned citizens can also send a tweet to the NCRPO’s Twitter account (@NCRPOReact) or leave a message on its Facebook account (NCRPOReact), he said.
Beltran assured the public that the “usual police service” was not affected despite the ATF and that the NCRPO was “committed to securing the ATF delegates, billeting areas and places of engagement….”
According to him, around 2,000 foreign and local delegates from 45 countries are expected to attend the event at the SMX Convention Center from Jan. 18 to 26 which aims to promote the Asean region as a tourist destination.