NCRPO to secure APEC meet, 2016 polls

MANILA, Philippines - Busy days lie ahead for the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) as its 19,000 personnel have been tasked to secure the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference in November and the elections in May next year, officials said yesterday.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ricardo Marquez said he wants a zero crime rate during the APEC meet, which will be attended by heads of state, at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City on Nov. 18 to 19.

The PNP is currently conducting security inspections of hotels and other buildings where 21 heads of state and a dignitary would be billeted.

Chief Superintendent Napoleon Taas, who heads the security contingent for the 22 officials, is expected to hold a dry run of the trip from the airport to the hotels and the PICC complex this month.

Taas said they will issue traffic advisories or reroute traffic during the dry run to prevent traffic jams along Roxas Boulevard and other streets in Manila and Parañaque City.

Marquez was the head of the joint security committee tasked to secure the APEC meet when President Aquino appointed him as PNP chief last month.

He will be replaced by Chief Superintendent Jonathan Miano, who assumed Marquez’s former post as head of the PNP’s directorate for operations.

According to the PNP chief, personnel under NCRPO director Chief Superintendent Joel Pagdilao would also play key roles in the security of the 2016 elections in Metro Manila.