AT LEAST 1,769 security personnel will be deployed to secure the 120 foreign and local delegates for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (Asean) 2017 23rd meeting of the coordinating committee on the Implementation of Asean Trade in Goods Agreement (Atiga) and related meetings slated on January 31 to February 4.
Police Regional Office spokesperson Andrea dela Cerna said Wednesday, January 25, during Armed Forces of the Philippines-Philippine National Police (AFP-PNP) press conference at Ritz Hotel Garden Oases, aside from the Philippines’ chairmanship launching of Asean 2017, Davao City is also scheduled to host another Asean meeting at Marco Polo Hotel.
“For the Asean 2017, we will be having different meetings and conferences to be held here but initially we have an activity this coming January 31 to February 4 so it will be attended by officials from the Asean,” dela Cerna said.
She said the PNP will be deploying over a thousand personnel including other 21 government agencies like PNP, AFP, Department of Health, Department of Tourism, Bureau of Fire Protection and among others.
As compared to the Asean launching last January 15, they will be deploying fewer security personnel but there would still be task group for security, peace and order, and emergency preparedness and response.
During the Asean Chairmanship launch, where some 1,000 delegates attended, some 4,000 security personnel were deployed to ensure the safety of the city.
The downsize of the number of enforcers for this event was based on the number of participants since they are only expecting few visitors.
Dela Cerna again reminded the public to observe and follow traffic regulations like illegal parking, as the road clearing operation will continue to be implemented in order to mitigate the traffic and the road discipline task group will be relentless in checking violators.
Also, she urged the cooperation of the Dabawenyos and supported the thrust of PNP by staying vigilant and reporting unattended baggage and suspicious personalities, and also illegal activities like extortion involving PNP personnel and government officials.
“Kung meron mang (If there is) information and we will make sure na mabibigyan natin ng action kasi (to act because) the action will depend if there are complaints,” she said.