Cops to secure beer houses, night clubs during APEC meet

MANILA, Philippines – The beer houses and nightclubs along Roxas Boulevard and in Makati City would be guarded tightly to prevent criminals from preying on foreign delegates attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit on Nov. 18 and 19, a police official said yesterday.

These establishments are open for business during the APEC summit and the police official said law enforcers would not prevent foreign delegates from patronizing them.

“We will be guarding these establishments against petty criminals like members of the Ativan gang, Salisi gang and pickpockets, who might take advantage of the APEC meeting,” the police official said.

The 19,000-strong National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) had been fully deployed at the APEC venue, the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), as well as in billeting areas starting yesterday.

While majority of policemen would be deployed in areas affected by APEC activities, personnel of the Eastern Police District, Northern Police District and Quezon City Police District would strengthen their checkpoints and patrol operations to prevent the entry of criminals and other troublemakers in the heart of the event.

The police official said the security for the APEC summit was doubled following a terrorist attack in Paris last Friday that left hundreds of civilians dead and critically wounded.

NCRPO chief Director Joel Pagdilao, head of Task Force Manila for the APEC security, inspected the billeting areas of a majority of delegates at the Makati area yesterday and he expressed satisfaction at the security deployment.

“They will be preventing the sneaking in of firearms and explosives by conducting intensified checkpoint and patrol operations,” he added.

Pagdilao also advised Filipinos to stay away from the PICC grounds if they have no important business in the area.

Cops given flu vaccine, vitamins, meals

Policemen deployed for the APEC summit were given flu vaccines and vitamins to better cope with the physical demands of securing the event. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe