Davide supports move to shut down cellphone signals in ASEAN meeting

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III has supported the plan of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to shut down cellular phone signal during the meeting of ministers which is part of the 30th Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit on the first week of April this year.

Davide said it is important to secure the safety of the delegates who will join the event and it's the police who know how to ensure the safety of the visitors.

"They can assess better the situation here.  Ang importante, these are foreign diplomats, foreign delegates.  I think they have to feel secure," Davide said.

The governor also points out that it is not the entire Cebu that will be affected by the shutdown but only those areas which has an event in line with the summit.

Davide also announced that the province will host one dinner with the ministers but they are still finalizing the preparation.

At least 200 police will be deployed in Cebu City to provide security for the event on April 4-7, said Senior Superintendent Joel Doria, chief of Cebu City Police Office (CCPO).

Doria told reporters yesterday that they will start their police deployment on March 30, five days before the actual convention of representatives or delegates from ASEAN countries.

“Start ng security deployment natin will be on the 30th of March. Ang actual engagement is April 4 to 7. Five days before and five days after yung whole duration na iyon, yun ang preparation natin. In place na lahat. Hintayin nalang natin ang activity,” Doria said.

Doria said one of the venues of the ASEAN meeting will be held in Cebu City.

He said the conference where the delegates will gather will be filled with security as well as the parameters around the summit’s venue.

When asked if police received threats, Doria said they assume there are security threats, considering that the delegates attending the ASEAN meetings are influential persons.

“Well, sa amin kasi, we assume na meron talaga (threat) kasi mga diplomats yan at hinding-hindi basta nalang pabayaan,” Doria dded.

He added that they will tap force multipliers for intelligence monitoring,

“Yes, we surely use them naman para sa intel monitoring natin,” Doria said.

Last week, the Police Regional Office-7 distributed white, round fans to passengers in Cebu South Bus Terminal bearing the faces of Top 10 most wanted criminals of police, as part of their anti-criminality campaign, security preparations for ASEAN meeting and Holy Week.  — Le Phyllis F. Antojado, Christell Fatima M. Tudtud (FREEMAN)