PNP News Releases 2006

ALL SYSTEMS GO FOR ASEAN SUMMIT SECURITY

PNP Chief, Director General Oscar C Calderon has suspended gun-carrying privileges extended to some licensed firearm holders in all venues of the 12 th ASEAN Summit in Cebu City .

Calderon also declared all venues of the 12 th ASEAN Summit in Metro Cebu as No Gun Zones for the duration of the 9-day international conference, which he described as the “single most important government activity for this year.”

The Chief PNP was in Cebu City today to personally assess the security measures laid down by Task Force ASEAN Summit during the final week of preparations for the international event in December.

“So far so good. We are ahead of schedule in implementing our security preparations. All personnel and resources are in place,” Calderon said.

He said a sizable contingent of police personnel has been committed for the ASEAN security operations. The PNP will provide security to delegates from ten ASEAN member states and at least seven other observer nations participating in the conference.

Elements of the Presidential Security Group will provide close-in security to heads of delegation. The AFP Central Command under Lt Gen Cardozo Luna has formed Task Force Alalay that will serve as support group to Task Force ASEAN Summit and the Task Group Cebu under Chhief Superintendent Silverio Alarcio.

The PNP will also provide security in all places of engagement particularly at the plenary sessions, the other venues where delegates are scheduled to hold official functions, and in hotel and billeting facilities.

All personnel have recently completed refresher courses on VIP security, police interdiction techniques, tactical operations, Civil Disturbance Management, and human rights.

Already in place are hundreds of newly-acquired police patrol units, motorcycle escorts, tactical support vehicles, mobile communication units, and other equipment.

While in Cebu, the Chief PNP also checked on the security measures imposed by the PNP Aviation Security Group and the Maritime Group at the Mactan International Airport and other domestic air terminals in the region, as well as in seaports and waterfront terminals.

In coordination with air transportation authorities, selected airspace in Metro Cebu have been declared "restricted fly zones".

Calderon gave instructions to all Regional Directors in Police Regional Offices that are not directly involved in the ASEAN Summit security to maintain vigilance and to undertake proactive as well as precautionary measures against hostile action of the CPP/NPA.

According to Calderon, the CPP/NPA was monitored to have lined up some activities coinciding with the Summit designed to disrupt and embarrass the government, and to attract international attention.

The Joint Intelligence Coordinating Committee will continuously conduct monitoring operations on domestic threat groups, Calderon said.

Civil Disturbance Management units will be deployed in strategic location around the Summit venues, and will be ready to address any situation.