Pushed Asean protocol officers ok security plans

Asean security protocol officers are reportedly satisfied by the security preparations laid out so far for the 12th Asean Summit in Cebu in December, the top police official in the region yesterday said.

PNP regional director Siverio Alarcio Jr. said security protocol officers from different Asean countries were in Cebu to assess preparations for the biggest gathering of Southeast Asian leaders and have exchanged notes with their local counterparts.

So far there have been no objections and except for one suggestion, no modifications of what had been laid out have been introduced, Alarcio said.

The suggestion, he said, was made by several security protocol officers whom he declined to identify. The security officers reportedly suggested that those governments that want to bring in their own vehicles for use by their respective heads of state and dignitaries should be allowed to do so.

Alarcio said he himself had no objections to the idea and said it will be considered. " Adjustments to the security preparations can be made. There is flexibility in our security package, " Alarcio said.

But even as the Asean security protocol officers posed no objections to the initial security plans, more security consideration continue to take shape.

A provincial board member yesterday introduced a resolution seeking to clamp a curfew in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapulapu, where the summit and all side meetings will take place.

However, the proposed resolution filed by Carmiano Kintanar was not clear on the time of the planned curfew, saying only that it should be at night. Neither did it say who are to be covered by the curfew.

Also, Kintanar did not say in his proposed resolution how he expects to have the curfew implemented in Cebu City considering that it is outside the political jurisdiction of the province.

A gun ban proposed by Alarcio himself and which drew immediate flak from Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmena now appears headed for implementation after both officials sorted out the kinks.

When Alarcio first broached the idea of a gun ban, Osmena promptly shot it down, calling it a " stupid " proposal that would unnecessarily endanger the lives of individuals who are licensed to carry guns for their own protection.

But after Alarcio made it clear to Osmena that the gun ban would only cover the official venues of the summit and side meetings and not the outlying areas around them, the mayor reportedly warmed up to the idea and supported it, prompting the police official to announce there were no more impediments to the plan.

Civilian assets of law enforcement agencies who have mission orders for their guns will be among those covered by the ban. Also covered are security and law enforcement officers who are not on duty.

Activities of gun clubs would also be suspended under the ban for the duration of the summit activities. - with Cristina Birondo