Traffic cuts short convoy dry run for Asean summit

MANILA, Philippines — Authorities cut short yesterday the fourth convoy dry run for the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit due to heavy traffic along EDSA in Quezon City.

Director Nap Taas, commander of the ASEAN Security Task Force, who rode in a convoy that left Clark International Airport in Pampanga at around 10:30 a.m., said they encountered the traffic at the corner of EDSA and Quezon Avenue.

Taas said the monstrous traffic was caused by a road repair at the corner of EDSA and Connecticut due to a sinkhole.

He said they were not able to complete the security dry run from Clark to Pasay City.

“But we still have three more weeks to practice the EDSA leg of the route,” he said.

The series of convoy dry runs is part of the security preparations for the ASEAN summit and related meetings in November. 

In a related development, police arrested a supposed freelance journalist for allegedly carrying a gun at a hotel in Pasay where some Asean leaders will be billeted.

Jeffrey Datuin, 24, allegedly yielded a .22-caliber revolver.

Police Officers 1 Adrian Jack Ancheta and Rolly Ferrer said they nabbed Datuin after a hotel security guard informed them that Datuin’s backpack contained a handgun.

Datuin is being held by police on charges of viola-ting Republic Act 10591, the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.