20 bomb-sniffing dogs from US to secure APEC meet

MANILA, Philippines - At least 20 bomb-sniffing dogs from the US will be used to secure some 22 heads of state during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in Manila in November.

Ronald Dizon, Philippine National Police (PNP) US anti-terrorism assistance program (UTAP) program manager, said the dogs are trained and ready to render security duty.

Twenty-two police officers will start a seven-week training today to handle the dogs to be deployed in various areas during the APEC meeting, he added.

The police handler-trainees will come from the Special Action Force (SAF), National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and the Aviation Security Group (ASG).

Dizon turned over the bomb-sniffing dogs to NCRPO chief Director Carmelo Valmoria during simple ceremonies at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City yesterday.

He said three experts from the US have flown in to train the policemen in the handling and caring of the dogs.

He did not name the trainers for security reasons.

Speaking during the dog handlers training, Dizon called for a moment of silence for elements of the Special Action Force (SAF) troops killed in a clash with secessionists in Maguindanao.

Some of them were known to him personally, he said.

Dizon said the donation of the bomb-sniffing dogs is part of the security cooperation of the US and the Philippines in fighting terrorism.

The NCRPO under Valmoria provided the cage and other facilities for the dogs inside Camp Bagong Diwa, he added.

Valmoria said the dogs came with dog food good for three months.

The PNP will shoulder the food and other expenses for the dogs after the US provisions have been consumed, he added.

The 20 dogs will join the PNP’s inventory of bomb-sniffing dogs to play key roles in the security of the APEC meeting, Valmoria said.