AFP: No terror threat monitored for Asean

MANILA, Philippines -  There is no specific terror threat that could disrupt the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Manila this week, but the military stressed it is not leaving anything to chance and “everything is covered” security-wise.

“Nothing to worry,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Eduardo Año said, as he assured the public that the military, in cooperation with the Philippine National Police (PNP), is prepared against terror and other disturbances during the summit at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).

“We have everything covered,” Año said.

The AFP, he said, also did not detect terrorist activities that might be launched by Abu Sayyaf bandits under Abu Rami, who was killed by government forces in Bohol earlier this month.

“Of course we will finish the Abu Sayyaf in Bohol,” Año said.

To ensure a smooth coordination among security units, all of them would be under the direct supervision of the national operation center, a body formed to handle security operations during the ASEAN event, Año said.

He revealed the military is focusing its efforts on dealing with the possible repercussion on Metro Manila of the ongoing military operations against the Abu Sayyaf in Bohol and the Maute group in Lanao del Sur. Both terror groups are claiming to have links with the Middle East-based Islamic State.

The AFP chief also pointed out that while he sees nothing wrong with being a Muslim convert, some of those claiming to be part of the “balik-Islam” are being monitored for possible links to the Maute. A senior anti-terror official said some sympathizers of the terror group are based in Manila.

Authorities said some balik-Islam members have become “highly dangerous religious fanatics.” 

Also to boost police presence at the ASEAN venue, the Cagayan Valley Regional Police Office has sent a contingent of 191 personnel to Metro Manila.

Region 2 Deputy Regional Director for Operations Sr. Supt. Bernabe Balba said the contingent includes two medical specialists, 21 security personnel, eight drivers and a logistics non commissioned officer.

Int’l delegates screened

Even the 1,900 foreign delegates had been checked of any derogatory record as part of stricter security measures, the Bureau of Immigration said.

“We just want to make sure that because of the influx of foreigners, it would not be used as an opportunity for those who are planning anything,” BI spokesperson Ma. Antonette Bucasas-Mangrobang said.

“We just want to make sure that those listed as delegates do not have derogatory records in our country,” she added.

A foreign national is considered as having a derogatory record if he or she is a terror suspect, has criminal record, or is a fugitive in his or her country of origin.

Based on advance screening of the foreigners’ background, none of them were found to have derogatory record, the BI spokesperson said.

The Immigration official said that since last year they have been offering to process the immigration documents of the heads of state, their entourage and delegates to the ministers’ meetings.

“We have been offering to process for several months now. We are part of the National Organizing Committee so we receive regular lists of delegates coming in for particular meetings. Whether here in Manila or in the provinces, we have officers there” to attend to them, Mangrobang added.

“For the heads of state who are coming, we have port courtesies being extended… They would no longer be asked to line up in the Immigration counters. We have particular officers assigned to them,” she said.

The BI would continue to provide such services until Nov. 14, or after the ASEAN event at Clark Field in Pampanga. The Nov. 1-14 event is expected to gather more that 4,300 delegates.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente had also ordered the deployment of 360 personnel for today’s event – of whom 227 would be on duty at any given time.

“There would also be Immigration representative detailed at the airports and all the venues that are being used for the ASEAN events such as the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) complex and 1 Esplanade,” Mangrobang added.

Meanwhile, Malacañang yesterday declared April 28 a special non-working day in Metro Manila.

The declaration was contained in Proclamation No. 197 signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

He said ASEAN 2017 organizers and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority had recommended the suspension of work for the government and the private sector in Metro Manila on April 28.

Malacañang’s declaration last week under Memorandum Circular No. 18 was only for class and work suspension for April 28.

Declaring the day a special non-working holiday entitles employees to additional pay if they report for work on that day.

According to Labor Advisory No. 4 issued by the labor department yesterday, the “no work, no pay” principle applies only to employees who did not work unless company policy, practice, or collective bargaining agreement (CBA) entitles them to payment on a special day.

For work done during a special day, a worker shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his daily rate on the first eight hours of work.

For work done in excess of eight hours or overtime work, a worker shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his hourly rate on that day.

For work done during a special day that also falls on his or her rest day, a worker shall be paid an additional 50 percent of his daily rate on the first eight hours of work.

For work done in excess of eight hours during a special day that also falls on a worker’s rest day, he shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his hourly rate.

Malacañang has suspended work in government offices at the PICC complex in Pasay City from April 24 to 30 and at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) complex from April 28 to 30.

Work in government offices in Pasay, Makati and Manila is also suspended on April 27.

The work suspension does not cover agencies involved in the delivery of basic services, including security and safety, health and emergency preparedness, and those directly involved in various ASEAN meetings and related activities.

It will be up to local governments in Pasay, Makati and Manila to decide whether to suspend classes tomorrow.

Malacañang is also leaving it up to local governments and employers to decide whether to suspend work on April 29.  Alexis Romero, Raymund Catindig, Evelyn Macairan