Gov’t won’t jam cell phone signals during Asean summit

MANILA, Philippines — Unlike previous events when authorities used jammers to cut off telecommunication signals, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) officer-in-charge Catalino Cuy said the government would not request telecommunications companies to suspend their operations at the venues of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit.

Cuy yesterday said the DILG has requested its counterparts and the security personnel of other heads of state not to bring in signal jammers.
“In the past, they bring their own gadgets, but we are discouraging them and reminded them it is not allowed in the Philippines. We do not have any arrangement for the stoppage of telecommunication signals… we see that our security preparations for leaders are enough,” Cuy said.

He pointed out that when signals of telecommunication companies are jammed, coordination between security forces are also affected.

Cuy admitted though in past big events, such as the visit of Pope Francis, the use of signal jammers was effective in preventing the use of cell phones to trigger an improvised explosive.

Director Napoleon Taas, ASEAN security task force commander, said personnel and K-9 units would be used to check for possible improvised explosive devices.

“That is also part of the directive of the President to minimize inconvenience. It is true that when network signals are jammed threats of remote detonation will be lessened, but we took it upon ourselves to check using our personnel and K-9 units,” Taas explained.

Allowing telecommunication signals to go unhampered would also give room for emergencies in communities allowing residents to use their cell phones to call for help, he said.

Ambassador Marciano Paynor Jr., director general for operations of the ASEAN national organizing committee, said the Philippine government is 90 percent ready to host the summit next week.
Leading the send-off ceremony of about 60,000 forces and resources from 21 government agencies yesterday, he said all security preparations are in place and about 90 percent complete.

In total, the Philippines is hosting 282 meetings, of which 252 have been completed and the rest to be done until Dec. 8.

“Of the 30, half of that is for (the preparations for) 31st ASEAN Summit, while the rest will be for senior officials, working groups, and special senior official meetings which will end by December 8,” Paynor said.

The capability of security forces in handling rowdy protesters was also tested in yesterday’s send-off ceremonies that started with a mass at the Quirino Grandstand.

Cuy said a total of 59,300 security personnel will be deployed in Metro Manila and Central Luzon.

“What is left to do is the (actual) deployment. We are confident that our security personnel and emergency preparedness personnel will be able to deliver the necessary tasks given them,” he said.
    The government is deploying a total of 203 patrol cars, 22 armored vehicles, 30 helicopters, 59 fire trucks, 94 ambulances, 125 bomb-sniffing dogs and 82 sniper teams for the event.

President Duterte earlier declared Nov. 13 to 15 as holidays and the suspension of classes on Nov. 16 and 17 to encourage the public to stay home and minimize inconvenience that may result from the partial or full lockdown of roads that would be used by the ASEAN Summit delegates.

Cuy said the security and emergency personnel for next week almost doubled, when compared to the security preparations for last April’s 30th ASEAN Summit, because the invited heads of states, leaders and dialogue partners more than doubled. In April, only 10 ASEAN leaders were present. At least 23 are expected to attend next week.

Another difference, he cited, is the use of Clark airport as egress and ingress, thus minimizing inconvenience and flight cancellations at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, like what happened during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in 2015. 

He also said some roads will be subjected to a “stop and go” scheme, while others, like those near the CCP Complex and portions of Roxas Blvd. will experience a total lockdown “during particular times,” referring to the time when delegates move from one venue to another.

“We are encouraging the public to avoid the area to avoid inconvenience,” Cuy urged.

Lone wolf

With only a week to go, security officers maintained there is no specific or imminent threat related to the international event.

However, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa urged the public to be on the look out for “lone wolf attackers” or individuals who would carry out attacks similar to that of the Resorts World casino and the concert in Las Vegas, where several people were killed.

He said this kind of attacker could not be monitored by security forces but could be easily spotted at the barangay, community or neighborhood level. He urged the public to be vigilant as he sought community support by reporting the presence of suspicious individuals to authorities.

Although he is confident that no Filipino wanted to become a suicide bomber, he stressed that the recent attack on Marawi City may be an indicator that some individuals have suicidal tendencies.

“As of now, we have not seen a real and direct threat to the ASEAN Summit. But we are not taking chances, we are ready,” Dela Rosa said in Filipino.

As for feeding all 60,000 personnel, the police chief said everyone would be served the same type of food “that is better than those served during APEC” and the same amount of allowance.