MANILA, Philippines — Authorities will strictly control access to venues of the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit and Related Meetings, with only authorized people and vehicles allowed inside restricted areas, the National Capital Region Police Office said over the weekend.
NCRPO officer-in-charge Brig. Gen. Christopher Abrahano ordered the strict enforcement of security perimeters and access protocols ahead of the ASEAN gathering in Manila.
Abrahano directed police personnel to check identification documents, credentials and vehicle passes at checkpoints to prevent unauthorized entry and detect suspicious activity.
He also ordered security teams to immediately verify reports of suspicious people, unusual activities and unattended items near summit venues and designated security zones.
“Our security perimeter is there for a clear purpose: to prevent unauthorized access and keep potential threats away from our delegates, personnel and the public,” Abrahano said.
He said checkpoints, exclusion zones and identity verification procedures must be implemented while respecting the rights of the public.
Abrahano issued the directives during a meeting with government agencies to discuss security deployments in strategic areas and operational readiness for the summit.
He also instructed police commanders to maintain adequate security in public areas adjacent to restricted zones to minimize risks and avoid unnecessary disruption to residents, commuters and businesses.
Women’s group sets protests vs Trump
Members of women’s group Gabriela will stage protests starting today ahead of US President Donald Trump’s arrival for next week’s ASEAN Summit.
Protesters will assemble today at T.M. Kalaw street in Manila and march to the US embassy along Roxas Boulevard.
Banners and other materials are expected to feature anti-Trump sentiments and messages such as “stop the rape of our motherland!” and “kick Trump out of the Philippines!”
Aside from condemning the US-led Pax Silica initiative, Gabriela said Trump is a “macho-fascist and a war criminal” who has “presided over and escalated wars that have claimed countless civilian lives, including children in Palestine and elsewhere.”
“What is packaged as ‘partnership’ is the conversion of the Philippines into a militarized industrial enclave and a source of ancestral lands and cheap labor for US corporations,” Gabriela said of the proposed AI hub in New Clark City.
Militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan will also stage anti-Trump protests from Nov. 16 to 17. — Delon Porcalla