Tom okay with ASEAN meet being held in Mactan Island

Mayor Tomas Osmeña does not mind if the meeting of the heads of state during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in December will just have to be held at the Shangri-La Mactan Island Resort and not at the Cebu International Convention Center as earlier planned.

Reports had it that the national organizing committee has reportedly decided to meeting at the hotel for security reasons, something that Osmeña also conformed to yesterday. He said that while he is not privy to decisions made by the national organizing committee, there reportedly has been a considerable apprehension on the heads of state traveling from the hotel in Mactan to the convention center in Mandaue City.

Osmeña said as long as the summit stays in Cebu as he has fought for, there is nothing wrong with having it in Shangri-La. What he is more concerned of is the security especially with the botched bombing of a mall at the reclamation area that seemingly manifested his fears of a possible terrorist attack during the event.

Osmeña had said that the estimated 15,000 military and police personnel that would provide security for the summit is a "factor" but not an assurance of a completely peaceful gathering. This considering that historically, "presidential assassins" do not worry about being caught after they consummate the crime.

Earlier, Osmeña said what he fears the most is if a terrorist attempt would be carried out by "men in uniform". Osmeña clarified he does not suspect anybody from within the ranks but explained it is not very difficult for possible terrorists to acquire uniforms of military and police personnel to carry out terrorist plots.

"If there's an area where we are vulnerable...if there's going to be a major attempt, it will be done by men wearing military uniforms," Osmeña said.

The mayor said that with the botched bombing last week, people would see the wisdom of his recommendation of making as holiday the four days of the ASEAN Summit from December 11 to 14, 2006.

Osmeña's purpose of the four-day summit is to decongest the city to maximize security. He believes it would be easier to implement security measures if there are less people around. Because of this, he is even offering P100,000 to the different towns and cities in the province to assist their local government of "balik-probinsiya" programs that would lure people back to their hometowns.

"If you're not paranoid, you'll just ignore the whole thing," Osmeña had said.

Another reason for the city to heighten security is the ASEAN Economic Minister's Meeting that would be held also here in Cebu just three days prior to the ASEAN Summit, which would be participated by 250 business leaders from all over the world.

The last day of the economic ministers meeting might cross over the December 11 to 14 ASEAN Summit because the business leaders will be meeting their respective heads of states after their own gathering. - Joeberth M. Ocao