PNP to enforce ‘strict’ security measures for Miss Universe

Policemen perform pass in review after their flag ceremony at Philippine National Police, Camp Crame Headquarters, Quezon City, May 16, 2016. INQUIRER PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA

The Philippine National Police will make sure that “strict and elaborate” security protocols to prevent lawless elements from carrying out criminal activities will be implemented when the country’s hosts the Miss Universe pageant in January next year.

The assurance came from the Department of the Interior and Local Government, which will spearhead the security preparations for the international beauty tilt in cooperation with the Department of Tourism.

“Strict and elaborate security protocols will be in place to prevent lawless elements from doing something malevolent considering the pageant’s global attraction. The DILG and the PNP will prevent any untoward incident to happen before, during or close to and after the pageant,” DILG Undersecretary for Legislative Liaison and Special Concerns Emily Padilla said.

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Padilla said the security team has started conducting ocular inspections in the venue and in other areas that will be visited by the candidates.

Aspiring Miss Universe title holder from over 90 countries worldwide will also visit Baguio, Cebu, Davao and Bohol.

READ: ‘We can’t afford security lapses in Miss Universe hosting’

“We need it not just to further boost our tourism industry, as we expect a big number of foreign tourists including international media to be here, but more than that, it is about our beautiful country for tourism, (and) it’s (also) actually about the Filipino people,” Padilla said.

For the PNP’s part, it said it has no plans of closing major streets and thoroughfares that would cause inconvenience to the public. JE/rga