'Excellent' APEC security in Cebu lauded

CEBU, Philippines - Philippine National Police Director General Ricardo Marquez said the security coverage for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperative forums in Cebu was "smooth-flowing" and that no untoward incidents were reported.

During the Final Inter-Agency Critique Session held at Vistamar Beach Resort in Barangay Mactan, Marquez said the police assigned for the  international gathering delivered well.

"Na-deliver ng Cebu Site Group ang major deliverables, zero incident. So, from there, napakaganda ng paghahanda, ang pagpaplano, napakaganda rin yung implementation sa security, public safety at saka emergency preparedness plan," he told reporters yesterday.

Though the police force in Cebu met challenges in the process, Marquez said they have attained the whole government approach, in which several agencies coordinated with them in achieving "common goals and advancing the country's interest."

Several agencies were recognized and given framed certificates for their contributions in Apec forums.

"They vowed themselves to the situation nga kailangan talaga nila magtulong-tulong. Maraming event ang nangyayari dito na yung mga templates, yung mga natutunang best practices dito, magagamit at i-apply sa future event – International Eucharistic Congress, yung ginagawa ninyo every January na Sinulog Festival, magagamit lahat yun. All is well for the safety," Marquez said.

Department of Tourism-7 Secretary Rowena Montecillo also thanked the local agencies and police force behind the success of Apec meetings which started yet in August.

"We just like to thank everybody. We just ended our final critiquing and final session... as mentioned by Undersecretary Ecarma, they congratulated us not just for a job well done but excellently done because there was zero incident during our hosting here in Cebu," she said.

Police Regional Office-7 Prudencio Tom Bañas was grateful for the recognition.

"We are inspired by the message he gave us ganina not only sa PNP but also sa lahat ng partner -agencies natin sa whole Region-7 for the successful holding of Apec," Bañas said.

All police personnel and local agencies ended the session with a boodle fight after. — Christell Fatima M. Tudtud  (FREEMAN)