2,000 anti-riot cops ready for Asean Summit protests

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit security task force has prepared more than 2,000 anti-riot policemen to maintain order during protest actions to be staged by militant groups during the duration of the summit, which will officially kick off tomorrow.

The Crowd Dispersal Management troops, who come from Regions 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and the National Capital Region to augment the Central Visayas' troops, will also include female policemen from different regions. The Region 6 police had sent 14 policewomen out of their 80-man CDM.

Supt. Mariano Natuel, the CDM task group commander, told The Freeman that he has 1,700 CDMs at his disposal to disperse possible violent protest rallies in any part of Metro Cebu, especially near the summit venues.

A few days ago, Police Regional Office director Chief Supt. Silverio Alarcio Jr. said additional policemen will beef up the security for the summit in spite of the estimated 10,000 policemen who are already deployed.

Aside from this, at least 151 new graduates from Regional Police Training School will be integrated into the CDM, and additional 250 police trainees will be pulled out from schooling to act as reserves.

Philippine National Police chief Oscar Calderon, however, urged his men to respect the rights of the protesters. Calderon, who arrived from Manila yesterday, inspected the task force's Tactical Operations Center at the Uniwide Warehouse in Mandaue City.

Natuel said the CDM unit has strict instructions to implement maximum tolerance during protest rallies. "As long as hindi lang sila (protesters) bayolente, we will be implementing maximum tolerance."

The police, however, admitted that they have no guarantee that protesters will keep the promise they made during their dialogue with the police and local officials last month.

However, only Cebu City has announced willingness to let protesters stage street protests even without permits provided that they would not destroy any government properties.

Natuel said they have not received any information pertaining to the possible joining of forces of foreign, national and local militant groups.

CDM troops yesterday tested their newly issued protective gears that include knee caps, elbow caps, helmet, vest, gas mask, batons and fiber glass.

Chief Supt. George Piano, deputy director for the PNP logistics, told The Freeman that these gears were all locally made, adding that each CDM trooper would wear an estimated P45,000 worth of protective gear. - Edwin Ian Melecio