Tight security, more checkpoints

EXPECT heavy security and more checkpoints along the route of the delegates of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

This after Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7 ) fully deployed the 4,600 security personnel for the second round of Asean meetings in Cebu City.

“(On Friday) full deployment na ang Task Group Cebu. Full alert na yung security natin,” said PRO-7 director Chief Supt. Noli Taliño.

(On Friday, our Task Group Cebu was already on full deployment. Our security is now on full alert)

The police are providing full security along the route of the Asean delegates from Lapu-Lapu City to Mandaue City and then to Cebu City.

Taliño said that the Asean senior ministers meeting will only be held in Radisson Blu.

However, the delegates will be staying in different hotels in Metro Cebu.

“May mga identified areas tayo (where we put security detail). Lahat ng hotels (where the delegates are staying) lalagyan ng security. Full security pa rin yung ipo-provide natin,” Taliño added.

(We have identified areas where we put security detail. All the hotels where the delegates are staying will also be provided full security.)

Aside from terror threats, the police are also monitoring rallies, said Taliño.

“Nag-expect din tayo ng (we are expecting) rally. Kasi during the first Asean meeting that was the only concern we had,” Taliño said.

In Cebu City, Councilor David Tumulak said that they are also ready for the Asean meeting which will start today.

Aside from police and K9 dogs from the Explosives Ordnance Division (EOD), the city’s Department of Public Services (DPS) is ready for collection of garbage and the Cebu City Transportation Office for traffic management since no rerouting scheme will be implemented.

A total of 143 delegates coming from Hongkong, European Union, Vietnam, Canada, the United States, China, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Singapore, South Korea, Brunei and Malaysia arrived in Cebu yesterday, said Tumulak.

He said security is tight in the entire province, not only in Cebu City, because some of the delegates will tour some tourist spots in Cebu and Bohol.

“Gipahugtan g’yud nato ang mga hotels and other areas sa Cebu province. Because right after sa meetings sa July 7, naay uban manuroy, mag-island hopping. Naay moadto sa province naay uban ngadto sa Bohol,” Tumulak said.

(We have tightened security in hotels and other areas in Cebu province. Because right after the meetings in July 7, some of them will go on tours, island hopping)