In the wake of terror attacks in Paris ,
President Benigno Aquino III convened the Cabinet security cluster to ensure
that all preparations and contingencies are in place for the 2015 Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit
slated Nov. 17-20 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).
”Yes, the President convened the security cluster in light
of the recent developments,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte
confirmed on Sunday to the Malacanang media.
Last Friday, at least 129 people were killed in three
separate but apparently coordinated terror attacks by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria
(ISIS) in the French capital.
”President Aquino wanted to ensure that all our preparations
are in place and all contingencies have been planned for. As he said, it is
better to be over prepared than caught under prepared,” Valte said.
Valte said the meeting, which lasted for an hour and a half,
was held at the Bahay Pangarap in Malacanang last Saturday.
The Cabinet members in attendance include Executive
Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)
Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, National
Security Council (NSC) Secretary-General Cesar Garcia and Philippine National
Police (PNP) Chief Ricardo Marquez.
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO)
Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said President Aquino continues to closely
monitor the preparations for the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, particularly
on security aspect.
”The President continues and is personally monitoring all
the aspects particularly on ensuring the security and safety of the public and
the APEC leaders and delegates from other countries,” Coloma said in an
interview with Radyo ng Bayan.
At least 10,000 delegates, including 3,000 media members,
will be coming for the 2015 APEC Summit which the country will host for the
first time since 1996.
Meanwhile, Coloma said the Department of Foreign Affairs
(DFA) continues to coordinate with the Philippine embassy in Paris to check if there are Filipino
nationals who were affected by the terror attacks.
Coloma said the Philippine embassy headed by Ambassador
Maria Theresa Lazaro is ready to provide assistance in coordination with the
local authorities.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=827357
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