MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) is set to deploy 1,786 personnel to secure the vicinity of the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) in Pasay City and to assist the convoys of delegates for the 23rd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) next week.
Pasay Chief of Police Senior Superintendent Joel Doria said that 478 PNP personnel under Task Force MOA which will secure the welcome dinner of the heads of state and some 1,000 delegates on November 18 at the MOA Arena.
PNP personnel under Task Force MOA will be deployed in the vicinity of the mall starting Friday.
An additional 466 PNP personnel from different district offices will be deployed in all entry points in the venue's vicinity on November 18, Doria said.
On the other hand, the PNP-Highway Patrol Group (HPG) will deploy 842 personnel to secure the convoy of the leaders and delegates for the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting next week.
HPG Spokesperson Superintendent Grace Tamayo said that the primary duty of the HPG is the route and convoy security along EDSA and Roxas Boulevard during the APEC week.
Four motorcycles and two mobile cars from the HPG, aside from security vehicles from other security agencies, will be part of the convoy of each APEC leader.
APEC National Organizing Council Director General Ambassador Marciano Paynor Jr. admitted that the security has been the greatest challenge in hosting the APEC summit this year.
"And that is the reason that our police have been stretched, well, normal regular police forces in this area technically are stretched. And so we had to bring in augmentation from the various different regions," Paynor said in a press briefing on Thursday.
Paynor, however, assured that the Philippines is ready for hosting the summit, which will be attended by 19 heads of state and two leaders of economies. Around 7,000 delegates are expected to attend the event.
RELATED: Meet the VIPs who will attend APEC in Manila