NCRPO chief: No terror threat in Manila Asean Summit

From the Daily Tribune (Apr 23): NCRPO chief: No terror threat in Manila Asean Summit

There are no validated threats of terrorist attacks on the 30th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit and Related Meetings to be held in Manila starting next week, a ranking Philippine National Police (PNP) official yesterday said.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Oscar Albayalde, however, assured the public that civilian security forces are not complacent in tracking down state enemies, especially Mindanao-based extremists.

The PNP has not received “any report of any imminent danger” connected to terrorism, he told an interview with state-run dzRB rdio.He added they continue to monitor “threat groups” from Metro Manila as well as certain areas in Mindanao.

Albayalde also said the NCRPO will get additional troops from nearby PNP regional offices to maintain order and security for the Asean summit.

“Starting Monday, about 41,000 uniformed personnel all from NCRPO will be deployed in major central areas. We have augmentation from the different regions, particularly in Regions I, II, III, IV-A and V,” he said.

Deputies are tasked to provide security for the summit delegates and as well as securing that no violence would spark in expected demonstrations by militant groups.

High profile personalities to arrive in the country this week include Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Sultan Hussein Bolkiah of Brunei. Representatives and ministers from other Asean states are also expected to join the regional event.

The 30th Asean Summit and Related Meetings will be held on April 26 to 29 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.

The meeting comes days after the military and police foiled a suspected terror attack by the Abu Sayyaf Group in Bohol.

The Philippine hosting of Asean in 2017 is a total number of 137 meetings, two summits, 17 ministerial meetings, 42 senior officials meetings and 76 technical working group meetings.

The country’s hosting of the Asean will culminate on its leaders’ summit in November.

Prominent political and economic figures are expected to arrive that include US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Meanwhile, the Department of National Defense (DND) has ordered all military intelligence units to intensify their operations against the terrorists and their sympathizers in the country.

“In fulfillment of President Rodrigo Duterte’s to address that concern, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has been directed to intensify its intelligence gathering activities on ISIS inspired groups and their supporters not only within our borders but also beyond,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said.

He added these efforts were inspired by the Chief Executive’s concern that after the illegal drug menace, terrorism has became the next greatest threat in the Philippines, citing stronger IS connections with the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandits and the Maute Group who are planning to conduct fresh atrocities against civilians in Mindanao.

Just recently, the AFP had conducted several hard-hitting operations against Abu leader Isnilon Hapilon, the professed IS leader in the Philippines in his Butig town, Lanao del Sur enclave, severely wounding the bandit chief apart from causing numerous casualties among his followers last January 26.

The wounded ASG leader is notorious for beheading captives, bombing population and business centers and other atrocities in various parts of Mindanao.

For the IS not to gain concrete foothold in the Philippines, Lorenzana has also instructed the country’s intelligence community to coordinate closely with the Asean counterparts.

   http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/ncrpo-chief-no-terror-threat-in-manila-asean-summit