IPU cops closely watching adventurous delegates

Elements of Task Force Parliament (TFP) are keeping an eye on adventurous delegates to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) to prevent an incident similar to the mugging of the deputy secretary general of the Belgian parliament.

The source said officials of the task force met last Tuesday night and discussed the case of Belgian George Brion, who was robbed by drug addicts when he took a pedicab last Tuesday.

One of the robbers had been arrested.

"We have identified IPU delegates who are likely to go out at night, yung malilikot, para alam namin kung sino ang dapat naming bantayan," said an official of the TFP, which is tasked to ensure the safety of the delegates to the 112th IPU general assembly being held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).

The official, however, refused to name the delegates and their countries. "Huwag na lang baka magkaroon pa ng diplomatic issue," the source said.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Arturo Lomibao admitted that the PNP does not have personnel to escort every delegate, but said 15,000 uniformed policemen would be enough to secure the safety of the foreign and local legislator attending the summit.

There are more than 1,000 delegates from almost 150 countries attending the IPU conference. After the summit, foreign delegates intend to extend their stay in the country to visit tourist destinations like Boracay and Subic.

TFP chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco said he and Lomibao have coordinated with Senate President Franklin Drilon to encourage delegates to go out by groups.

"If they go out by bus, at least we can assign a number of uniformed policemen to escort them. Our policemen will be around, but we would like to assure them of their privacy," Velasco added.

On the delegates plan to extend their stay in the country, Velasco noted that the TFP will not be disbanded for as long as a single delegate is still in the country.

"We will remain committed to protect them from any harm," he said.

The government has announced that it would use the affair to promote the country’s tourist destinations.

"We hope that when these delegates return to their country, they will become our ambassadors of goodwill by promoting the good things our country has to offer to tourists," Velasco said.