AFP: No foreign security help for APEC

MANILA, Philippines –The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday clarified that there is no foreign help in the security measures carried out at the ongoing Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Meeting amid the arrival of two ships early this week.

AFP spokesperson Col. Restituto Padilla said that all security measures were made by the local military and police.

"All APEC Security Task Force assets are from the Philippines. No foreign government is helping us in this task. Foreign ships (like the USS Fitzgerald and BNS Somudra Avijan) are only here for port calls," Padilla said.

Prior to APEC, the AFP and Philippine National Police laid down massive security preparations said to be more complex than the security measures during the visit of Pope Francis in January.

Last Saturday, the members of the Philippine National Police Special Action force conducted a simulated attack as part of the preparations for heightened security for the APEC Summit.

For APEC, the military organized all its air, land and sea assets to secure the safety of international and local delegates including the leaders.

The Philippine Air Force deployed an aircraft for air patrol and intercept missions while the Philippine Army positioned armored vehicles to secure the venues. The Philippine Navy, on the other hand, set up one of its modern warships to assist the Coast Guard in implementing its no-sail policy in Manila Bay.