Foreigners joining APEC rallies to be arrested

MANILA, Philippines – Foreigners who will join rallies during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Manila this week will be arrested, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday.

Director Jonathan Ferdinand Miano of the PNP Directorate for Operations said foreigners visiting the country must follow the rules set by the government.

“As a rule foreigners are not allowed to join protests so they will be arrested,” Miano said after the PNP conducted full-scale simulation exercises for the 2015 APEC Leaders’ Meeting at One Esplanade, Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

“So far we have not received any threat from terrorist groups. We are only anticipating protest actions that may disrupt the convoys of the APEC delegates,” he added.

Militant groups earlier announced they would stage protests in front of the US embassy in Manila and other sites of the APEC meetings.

Miano said the PNP had put in place security measures for the APEC summit as far back as six months ago.