No untoward incidents related to APEC – authorities

MANILA, Philippines - The week-long Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit held in Manila was generally peaceful and orderly without any untoward incident reported.

APEC Security Task Force spokesman Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor said there was no untoward incident except for the clashes between anti-riot policemen and protesters, where some were taken to hospital.

Mayor added there was a significant decrease of reported crimes during the summit.

“We attributed the success to whole of government approach, which is the coordination and cooperation of the government agencies involved in the security task force, including the cooperation of the public and the media,” Mayor said.

He said the cooperation of the people who went to the provinces during the holding of the summit was a big contribution to the success of security.

“They enjoyed the holidays and they contributed to the success of the peaceful conduct of APEC,” he said.

Mayor also thanked media for giving timely information to the public.

Mayor added the police would pursue charges against the rallyists involved in the scuffle with the anti-riot police.

“When the police are doing their duty, and they were assaulted, they (rallyists) are committing offenses against the state,” he said.

The police tapped firemen in confronting the rallyists with water cannons and loud music to drown out the noise of the protesters.

“Water is less lethal. Water and music cool down tension,” Mayor said.

He said the police exercised maximum tolerance in dealing with the protesters, allowing them to hold their protest actions even without permits from the local government.

Anti-riot policemen had been deployed at strategic areas leading to the venues in a bid to contain the rallyists protesting the holding of the APEC.

Organizers swept about 20,000 homeless people from the streets, cancelled more than a thousand flights, deployed 18,000 police and declared public holidays in Manila to ensure a safe and efficient summit.

Major streets in the usually chaotic Metro Manila were closed to traffic to speed up the shuttling of delegates, with police asking building owners to close their windows to prevent their use by snipers.

Authorities also implemented a “no sail zone” in Manila Bay and Pasig River during the APEC meetings.

The Philippine Coast Guard yesterday said the no sail zone has been lifted.

Militant groups, however, said the security implemented during the APEC summit was “overkill.”

The Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) said they are planning to file charges against the policemen involved in the dispersal of rallyists protesting the APEC summit.

“Instead of respecting the Filipino workers’ and people’s right to assert that their demands be heard, the Aquino government responded with an overkill amount of force,” KMU secretary general Jerome Adonis said.

Adonis said the police used force against protesters, a number of them sustaining serious injuries.

One-day treat

Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the presumed overkill in security of the APEC could be an overstatement.

“How can you have an overkill with 21 heads of state? No amount of money can buy your reputation back (if something happens),” he said.

Marcos though admitted he had to escape the traffic brought by the tight security lockdown in Manila during the APEC summit.

Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez commended the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Armed Forces and concerned civilian agencies for successfully securing the APEC.

“I thank the PNP and all the women and men for their hard work. They did a great job in keeping the peace and order amidst most challenging and trying APEC Leaders’ summit,” he said.

Romualdez said the successful security procedures showed the PNP is “a role model despite meager budget for their modernization.”  – With Evelyn Macairan, Paolo Romero, Artemio Dumlao