The Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are set to deploy a security force of 3,000 cops and soldiers as safeguard during what will be the fourth Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) conference in Bohol this year.
This was bared on Tuesday by Police Superintendent Julian Entomo of the multi-agency coordinating council for the Asean during a meeting of the local organizing committee for the 10-nation bloc’s activities in the country.
According to Entomo, security forces and emergency response personnel under various task groups are ready to implement heightened security and safety measures during the five-day event which will be attended by at least 200 Asean senior officials and ministers from November 26 to 30.
The delegates will be part of the second Asean Inter-Governmental Commission on Human Rights conference which will be held in Panglao and is being organized by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Meanwhile, the National Organizing Council for the Asean will be arriving in Bohol on November 24 to boost preparations for the event.
In previous gatherings of foreign delegates in the province earlier this year, government security forces also deployed thousands of personnel to guard meeting locations and surrounding areas.
READ: No-sail, no-fly zone at Panglao for ASEAN meeting
A maritime task force was also formed to enforce no-sail and no-fly zones and to implement heightened security in waters off Panglao.
READ: Preparations for Asian nations’ talks in Panglao on high gear
Bohol has hosted three ASEAN conferences this year and the 34-nation Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) which was also held in Panglao. (rt)