High alert, heavy security for Asean

MANILA, Philippines - Manholes were sealed, speed bumps removed, and jails holding suspected terrorists raided as part of security preparations for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit this week.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said it had to seal manholes around summit venue the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) to prevent terrorists from planting bombs inside.

“These manholes already have covers, but for good measure we covered them up with asphalt so they would not be opened. We are not discounting the possibility that they would not  be used to hide bombs,” DPWH-National Capital Region (NCR) director Melvin Navarro yesterday said. He said the asphalt seal would be removed after the summit, which ends on April 29.

Three road humps in the vicinity of the PICC have also been removed to make sure nothing slows down ASEAN leaders and officials while traveling to and from the summit venue.

“Most of the preparations that we made for the ASEAN Summit were in line with the security measures being implemented by the government. We removed the humps near the PICC so the delegates need not slow down when they travel to and from the PICC,” Navarro said.

Heavy equipment would be on standby round-the-clock during the summit to make sure unauthorized roadblocks and other obstructions could be easily removed.

Navarro also said Roxas Boulevard would not be affected much by the security preparations as summit leaders and other delegates would be using the newly constructed P20.45-billion elevated Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Expressway to reach the PICC grounds from the airport.

Roxas Boulevard used to be a focal point of security preparations in previous international events in Manila.

“The completion of the NAIA Expressway is really a big deal since they would no longer use Roxas Boulevard. Since there is already an expressway, it lessened our preparations work load,” he added.

Oplan Galugad

While claiming no specific terror threat during the summit, the Philippine National Police (PNP) launched raids on Metro Manila jails holding Abu Sayyaf members.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Oscar Albayalde said the raids on the Metro Manila District jail and the Special Intensive Care Area 1 (SICA 1) in Taguig were part of stepped up security preparations for the ASEAN summit. At least 320 policemen were involved in the raids led by Senior Superintendent Eleazar Matta, NCRPO’s intelligence chief.

“The raid was part of our effort to preempt any terrorist threat to the ASEAN gathering. We were lucky to confiscate the cellphones and the diagram to build bombs,” said Albayalde in an interview.

The 23 confiscated cellphones were being subjected to forensic examination, he said, adding that the diagram could be owned by PO3 Phon Mansul Mohammad, who was formerly assigned at the Police Regional Office 9 (PRO9) in Zamboanga City.

Mohammad is facing illegal possession of firearms and explosives charges.

According to Albayalde, Mohammad refused to explain the diagram in his possession.

“It appears that he (Mohammad) is teaching somebody how to make bombs. He is assigned in Zamboanga City and facing possession of explosives and firearms charges so he knew the intricacies of making bombs,” the NCRPO chief said.

He said he has asked the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology to strictly monitor Mohammad to prevent him from sharing his bomb-making skills with Abu Sayyaf detainees. He also urged BJMP officials to prevent inmates from procuring cellphones and other gadgets as they might use them in selling illegal drugs or in contacting their comrades still at large.

“There is no imminent threat in coming ASEAN Summit. However, we have to be cautious because the threat is always there, it is global,” he said. “The output of this Oplan Galugad is very helpful in preventing the inmates to pursue any attempt to threaten the security situation prior or during the ASEAN conference as well as to monitor and eventually stop their illegal drug transactions,” he explained.

“We will continue this joint effort with the BJMP-NCR. We want to make sure that while we perform separate tasks, both NCRPO and BJMP-NCR are determined to cleanse our rank and facilities. We will continue helping each other on the issues on illegal drugs and terrorism to ensure the success of the ASEAN conference,” Albayalde said.

Not taking chances

PNP chief Director General Ronaldo dela Rosa said a total of 40,877 public servants from 21 different government agencies have been mobilized to help preserve order and security during the summit.

“The personnel will be deployed to provide security and assistance to delegates of the 10 ASEAN-member nations, dialogue partners, observer states, and their respective delegations,” Dela Rosa said in a press briefing at Camp Crame yesterday.

“We are putting our best foot forward in this historic national event. We have started preparations since last year. We have rehearsed and fine-tuned all our systems and procedures for this event, such that we have established full back-up system that will address any unforeseen situation that may arise,” the PNP chief said.

Dela Rosa said the PNP is providing muscle for the security component of the summit through the ASEAN Security Task Force under Director Napoleon Taas.

“We are not leaving anything to chance in our preparations and we have drawn contingencies for every foreseeable scenario,” Dela Rosa added. He stressed people’s cooperation would be crucial.

“We are appealing to the public for their understanding and cooperation in security measures that are being implemented by the police,” he said.

The military is also leaving nothing to chance but reiterated it has not detected any specific threat to summit participants. – With Michael Punongbayan, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Pia Lee-Brago