Security in the countryside tightened for APEC Manila

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Police and military forces intensified the security in the countryside, including Zamboanga City, to prevent terrorists and other threat groups from staging attacks during the conduct of the Asia Pacific Economic Coperation (APEC) summit this month, an official said.

“We’re trying to harden the security in the city in preparation for the APEC meeting in Manila,” City Police Office (CPO) director Senior Superintendent Angelito Casimiro told newsmen on Monday.

He said Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ricardo Marquez issued the directive for the strengthened security that would preempt threat groups from staging an attack.

The PNP chief is the head of the organizing committee for security of the 23rd APEC to be held on the third week of November in Manila.

At least 21 heads of state, including US President Barack Obama, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, have reportedly confirmed their attendance in the meeting. 

Casimiro confirmed the police and military bomb squad units have been undergoing training exercises for the summit.

Casimiro said they are focused on tightening the security in the ingress and egress points like seaports, airports and terminals as possible areas for terrorists to slip into Manila.

“The directive to us is to harden the security in terminal areas to prevent terrorists coming from the different provinces to travel to Metro Manila,” Casimiro said.

The police official said security will also be intensified even in the local level to prevent threat groups from sabotaging the summit to steal international attention.