By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
As intensive preparations for the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits wind down, the enforcement of the protocols to ensure the safety of delegates and world leaders starts to take shape.
In a press briefing on Thursday, PNP Public Information Office Chief PBGen. Allen Rae Co announced that the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and Police Regional Offices (PROs) 3 (Central Luzon) and 4A (CALABARZON) will be placed on full alert status from Friday until Nov. 19.
During this period, 100% of personnel must be present for duty and deployment for the three-day event that would gather more than 20 world leaders to foster camaraderie and work together on setting new agendas.
PBGen. Co moreover issued a warning against those who will attempt to interfere with or spark unrest during the Summit proper, reminding them that Constitutional rights have definite boundaries that ought not to be crossed.
The PIO chief said in response to Bagong Alyansang Makabayan’s plan to express their disapproval of US President Donald Trump’s presence during the Summit, “When you infringe on other people’s right, when you trample on other people’s right, it ceases or stops to be a peaceful exercise of that right. So we will disperse them pagdating. They can and will be dispersed.”
Meanwhile, PBGen. Co said that as of press time, the PNP has not monitored any serious threats in the days leading up to the regional gathering.
However, the cops remain vigilant and ready to respond to low level and normal threats as part of maintaining peace and order in anticipation of the world leaders’ arrivals.
On Wednesday, a total of 23,154 security personnel participated in the send-off ceremony officiating their deployment on Summit venues, which is also supported by various operational resources, including equipment, trucks and buses, more than 1,000 motorcycles, patrol vehicles, ambulances, canine units, and tactical watercraft. (with report from Ryan Lesigues | PTV News)
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