1,207 cops deployed for SEAMEO council meet

MANILA, Philippines — Up to 1,207 police officers are securing the delegates of the 52nd Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Council Meeting, which started on Wednesday in Mandaluyong City.

Maj. Gen. Jonnel Estomo, director of the National Capital Region Police Office, said the police personnel are responsible for traffic management, anti-crime operations, civil disturbance management, explosive ordnance disposal and other necessary tasks to ensure the safety of the participants in the conference, which is being held at EDSA Shangri-la Hotel until today.

Estomo, who is also the SEAMEO task group commander, said part of the security blueprint is beefing up police visibility in the area.

“Police are working with other agencies to ensure peace and order in the inner venue, billet and route as well as access,” he said in a statement.

While there will be no re-routing of vehicles within Metro Manila, Estomo said their security convoy would utilize the bus lane along EDSA for the movement of delegates.

Among the participating countries for the intergovernmental organization are Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam and the Philippines.