How do we secure the ASEAN summit from terrorists?
We cannot help but worry with the government on the matter of securing no less than 21 heads of state, and more than a thousand diplomats and their underlings, all converging in one location from November 13 to 17. This is a security nightmare that Philippine government authorities are having sleepless nights about these days. Since President Donald Trump is not only attending in ceremonies but will even extend his visit in order to participate in the historic convergence of world leaders, our government must leave no stone unturned in assuring the safety and security of all dignitaries and their delegations.
President Rodrigo Duterte and Foreign Affairs Secretary Allan Peter Cayetano must already be burning their candles both ends in order to make sure that all the delegates shall go home safe and happy. China's Prime Minister Li Kequiang, and even its great leader, chairman Xin Jin Ping, and Russia's Dmitry Medvedev (in behaalf of President Vladimir Putin) shall join US President Trump and all the heads of states and governments of Japan, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Canada, in addition to the leaders of the ASEAN Ten, namely Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos PDR and Brunei Darussalam.
The Philippine National Organizing Committee (NOC) led by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea last Sunday led the ceremonial sendoff of no less than 60,000 personnel assigned to secure the ASEAN Summit in Manila and Clark. He was joined by Ambassador Marciano Paynor, Director for Operations of the NOC, Director Napoleon Taas, Commander of the ASEAN Security Task Force, Lt Gen Rey Leonardo Guerrero, Armed Forces Chief of Staff and Chief PNP General Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa. Everyone is doing his best to make this summit terrorist-free and flawless insofar as security is concerned.
The Philippine government will deploy no less than an unknown number of fighter planes (on standby), 30 helicopters, 203 patrol cars, 394 motorcycles, 22 armored cars, 59 firetrucks, 94 ambulances, 89 sniper teams, and 125 EDDs (explosive detection dogs or canine). These will be manned by 60,000 personnel, all battle-armed and combat-ready. They do not include an undisclosed number of intelligence operatives that are planted and disguised, in all nooks and crannies and are connected by digital communication lines with all security units and personnel.The terrorists should never attempt to infiltrate these heavy defense mechanisms, never before deployed by any ASEAN host in the regional association's fifty years of existence.
I am naturally concerned but sufficiently satisfied by this unprecedented degree of readiness. Mabuhay!
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