Gov’t on alert vs lightning strikes during Asean summit

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga  , Philippines  —   Authorities securing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have been alerted against possible “lightning strikes” by militant groups along the routes of leaders and delegates attending the summit next month.

Pampanga police operations chief Supt. Michael John Riego said militant groups protesting the holding of the summit could block or flash protest signs along the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) where the leaders and delegates are expected to pass through.

Riego said groups staging lightning strikes could be arrested.

Lightning strikes could occur even as officials said the SCTEX or the NLEX would be closed to other motorists during ASEAN convoys.  

“NLEX people did not want it probably because there would be heavy losses, so what will be implemented is a stop-and-go scheme to give way to the convoys,” Riego said.

Riego said heavy traffic caused by the recent dry runs for the ASEAN event was due to “miscommunication.”

He said gaps in the dry runs had been patched up and the stop-and-go scheme was minimized to allow motorists only five to 10 minutes of delay.

Riego stressed the traffic interventions would only be implemented during the arrival and departure of leaders and delegates attending the event.

“The heads of states would be flown from Clark airport to Manila destinations. The rest would be escorted in convoys by land,” he said.

Interior and Local Government officer-in-charge Catalino Cuy, chairman of the ASEAN committee on security, appealed to the motoring public to take other routes and refrain from passing through the NLEX and EDSA during summit days.

He said the two major highways would be used in the stop-and-go scheme whenever a delegate passes through.

Lockdown sked set

Cuy spelled out the lockdown schedules and the affected ASEAN lanes.

“With less that two weeks before the event, I urge the public to steer clear of said lockdown areas so that they will not be trapped just in case there is a passing convoy,” he said.

The affected areas include: the CCP complex in Pasay City where a partial lockdown would be implemented on Nov. 8 from 12:01 a.m. onwards; the SMX-MAAX Block, also in Pasay City on a complete lockdown on Nov. 11 from 10 p.m. onwards; on Nov. 12, there will be a complete lockdown of the CCP complex from 12:01 a.m. onwards; on Nov. 13, a total lockdown of Roxas Boulevard starting from Padre Burgos Ave. to Buendia Avenue will be implemented from 12:01 a.m. onwards; there will be a partial lifting of the lockdown at the SMX-MAAX Block on the same date from 12:01 a.m. onwards; at noon there will be lifting of lockdown for Roxas Boulevard (from Padre Burgos street to Buendia Avenue) on the same date.

On Nov. 14, there would be a continuous lockdown of CCP complex; on Nov. 15 (noon onwards), a partial lifting of lockdown for CCP complex.

During partial lockdown period, Cuy said pedestrians and vehicles without ASEAN IDs and decals are allowed to enter the above-mentioned routes provided that they pass through the vehicle and pedestrian security areas.

“On days with full lockdown schedule, only pedestrians and vehicles with ASEAN IDs and decals will be allowed to pass while the general public will be denied access to these routes,” Cuy said.

Riego added the Clark International Airport could accommodate a maximum of four 747 jumbo jets while others are to be directed to the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.

Security arrangements have been made to accommodate the flights of ASEAN delegates to Clark International Airport.

Officials said this was decided so as not to disrupt flights at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Metro Manila.

Malacañang had declared Nov. 13 and 14 as non-working days in Pampanga, Bulacan and the National Capital Region in relation to the ASEAN events being hosted by the Philippines.

A total of 22 foreign leaders and more or less 3,000 delegates will attend the 31st ASEAN Summit here.

Among the world leaders attending the summit are US President Donald Trump, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

A task group led by Cuy has been formed to implement security plans during the ASEAN Summit. A total of 33,086 policemen will be deployed during the event.

Cuy urged local chief executives of Metro Manila and Region III to provide support to the ASEAN delegates; remove unwanted elements on the streets that will create more traffic; and display information, education and communication materials that express support for the ASEAN. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe