Maharlikan Times

PNP deploys 5,000 cops to secure interfaith dialogue at PICC

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MANILA, March 12  -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) will field some 5,000 policemen to provide close-in security to delegates of the Philippine-hosted Special Non-Aligned Movement Ministerial Meeting (SNAMMM) on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace and Development on March 16-18 in Manila.

     Foreign delegates from 105 countries are expected to take part in the 2-day international conference at the Philippine International Convention Center, in Pasay City, highlighting the Philippines' leading role in interfaith dialogue worldwide.

     President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will deliver the keynote address before the NAM assembly on Wednesday, March 17.

     Dr. Ali Abdussalam Treki, president of the 64th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, will formally open the SNAMM conference on Tuesday. Other speakers include Dr. William F. Vendley, Secretary General of the World Conference of Religions for Peace.

Over 105 delegations have already confirmed attendance in the SNAMMM, including 24 foreign ministers and 19 deputy ministers from NAM-member and observer countries and guest organizations.

     According to Foreign Affairs Undersecretary and NAM National Organizing Committee Secretary General Rafael Seguis, the SNAMMM would be the biggest inter-governmental meeting, and the first of its kind ever to be hosted by the Philippines.

    It aims to promote interfaith dialogue and cooperation to cultivate a culture of respect, tolerance, understanding and harmony among people of different faiths, cultures and religions.

    PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa, who is Assistant Secretary General for Security Matters of the SNAMM National Organizing Committee, has activated PNP National Task Force "Special NAM," headed by Deputy Director General Jefferson P. Soriano, PNP Deputy Chief for Administration.

    A total of 4,966 personnel will provide security to the delegates and the conference venue. The security contingent is divided into 11 Task Groups, each responsible for different functions such as area security, close-in VIP security, route security and traffic management, mobile escort, emergency medical service, communications, intelligence, investigation, airport security, and seaborne patrol.

    The Task Groups are composed of Units from the Aviation Security Group (AVSEGroup), National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), Police Security Protection Group (PSPG), Special Action Force (SAF), Highway Patroly Group (HPG), Intelligence Group (IG), Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Maritime Group, Communication and Electronics Service, and Health Service.

    Supporting teams from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Presidential Security Group, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection, Department of Health, Metro Manila Development Authority, National Security Council, National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Immigration, and the Airport Police Department will also be detailed to the different Task Groups under NTF ”Special NAM”.

    "This international event is another opportunity for our country to shine and open our doors to the worldwide community of nations," PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Leonardo Espina said.

   A Joint Intelligence Center, composed of PNP Intelligence Units and other agencies that make-up the national intelligence community, has been established to monitor and address all possible threats to the international conference.

   The NTF Special NAM has been holding a series of Crisis Incident Management Simulation Exercises (CIMSE) simulating various scenarios and contingencies as part of the security preparations.

    The Security contingent will continue holding dryruns this weekend, particularly on security procedures and movement of convoys from the airport to the conference venue and billeting areas of the delegations.

   Espina appealed to the motoring public for understanding and cooperation to the temporary inconvenience that will be caused by the movement of the security convoys of conference delegates.