How do we secure 21 state and economic leaders?
With the Paris terrorist attacks in mind, it must be a great nightmare for our government, especially our President, to make sure that our very, very important official visitors are protected from all and any harm, even the slightest ones of any form whatsoever. It is once of a lifetime that such great world leaders as President Barrack Obama, the head of state and head of government of the USA, the Paramount Leader of China and chairman of the Communist Party and overall leader of the Central Committee, Xin Jin Ping, and the Prime Minister of Russia (representing President Vladimir Putin, who could not make it) will be in the same locations for at least two days. How will our police forces, our military and intelligence operatives make sure that no terrorists or deranged suicide bomber can penetrate all walls of security.
That is why thousands of flights had been cancelled because Metro Manila is a no-fly-zone. Manila Bay is no-sail zone. Government and business offices are closed. Many streets are closed to traffic. Life and corporate activities are halted. Even phone signals and banking operations are ordered suspended. Billions worth of business transactions are either cancelled or postponed. Productivity is practically reduced to nil. And movements of people, vehicles and other things are virtually put on hold. The whole country, especially Metro Manila is transformed into a premature vacation mega city. Is this good for the economy, in particular, and to the nation, in general? Somebody must undertake a detailed cost-benefit analysis later.
In the meanwhile, our greatest worry is how to make sure that the twenty-one leaders and their accompanying spouses, lovers or both, children and underlings, official entourage or extra ''alalays'' will all be safe. Not to mention the hundreds, nay, thousands media men and women from all over the globe. That is why all the four presidential sisters have been assigned to escort important spouses of the most important heads of states. I would guess that Kris Aquino would be assigned to accompany the wife of China's paramount leader, since Madam Michelle Obama cannot make it. They will have to be guided to certain shops that showcase unique pieces of souvenirs and arts, and to visit orphanages and kindergarten schools. Ballsy and Viel should also take care of the others, to escort them in places that they would specify.
The protocol officers from our DFA should make sure that President Xin Jin Ping should not get a glimpse of demonstrators from UP and PUP who might be lambasting China's incursions into Bajo de Masinloc and other Philippine territorial domains. Chairman Xin should be beyond the reach of perennial presidentiable Ely Pamatong. The enemies of the BBL should not be allowed any chance of showing Prime Minister Najib Razak that many Filipinos are not pleased by the role played by Malaysia in trying to "force" into the Filipinos a Malaysian-inspired Bangsa Moro autonomous state. The Protocol officers also must make sure that mainland China delegates should not be billeted in the same or nearby hotels where Taiwanese representatives are staying.
The excessive fears for possible breaches of protocol that may border on security threats have impelled the DSWD again to round up all street dwellers in Manila and environs and bring them to some Batangas resorts or elsewhere, just to make the Bay Area free from street urchins and other "human eyesores." Secretary Dinky Soliman has claimed that this is not unique to the APEC nor to the past papal visit, but, allegedly (with tongue in cheek) a standard and routine procedure. (Tell that to the marines, Madam Secretary). Everything and anything is being done to protect the very, very important guests. Any slightest security problem would be taken as a failure of the President. Failure is never an option. The Paris or 9-11 debacles should not happen in Manila.
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