MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) will deploy a total of 7,700 police personnel to secure the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Annual Board of Governors’ Meeting slated to be held from May 2-6, an official said.
In a statement, PNP spokesperson, Chief Supt. John Bulalacao, said police personnel will be fielded starting Friday to secure the event to be attended by about 3,000 dignitaries, including 67 finance and economic planning ministers.
PNP Director for Operations, Chief Supt. Ma. O Aplasca, said the Security Task Force “ADB Manila 2018” will involve a combined contingent of 8,504 public safety personnel from the law enforcement, local government, fire, and medical emergency services.
Chief Supt. William Macavinta, who leads the PNP preparation’s Red Team, said they will secure the venue, as well as the hotels where delegates and guests would stay.
“Normally we secure the venue and billeting areas, which are the hotels around Pasig, including Makati and Taguig,” Macavinta said.
” As in other major events, we try to maintain zero incident. We have had rehearsals and performed adequately as far as preparations are concerned,” he added.
Chief Supt. Alfredo Valdez, the Task Force Commander, said that aside from the venue, they will also secure routes to the airport.
He added that they have not received any specific threat, aside from possible public demonstrations on May 1, Labor Day.
“As of now, we have not received any specific threat but we are considering that on May 1, we have of course, is Labor Day,” Valdez said.
“So we know that labor groups will converge and conduct a rally so that’s what we see as our concern and other events that will happen within the ADB meetings,” he added. (Benjamin Pulta/PNA)
