NCRPO to go on full alert for SEAG

Volunteers will assist guests and delegates for the entire duration of the 30th SEA Games.

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will go on full alert beginning 25 November, deploying around 8,000 police officers to secure local and foreign delegates of the 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games).

NCRPO acting director Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas said cops will be deployed as early as 22 November in 27 billet areas and 19 sports venues around Metro Manila.

“The guests will start arriving on November 24 and 25 so we will place the entire force on full alert on the 25th up to December 14,” Sinas said on Friday.

Sinas said no security threat has been monitored so far but the NCRPO remains on alert.

On Monday, PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said a total of 27,440 police officers will be deployed in venues in Metro Manila, Laguna, Bulacan, Tagaytay, Subic and New Clark City sports complex in Capas, Tarlac.

Some 18,105 policemen will be deployed in Metro Manila, 6,554 in Central Luzon, 1,865 in Southern Luzon and 916 in La Union.

Aside from police officers, 20,000 personnel from different agencies will also be on duty, PNP officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa said.

“We are putting our best foot forward for the regional sporting event among our Asean neighbors. We have started preparation since last year, we continue to rehearse and fine-tune all our systems and procedures for this event, such that we have established a full back-up system that will address any unforeseen situation that may arise,” Gamboa said.

Over 10,000 athletes from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Timor Leste, Singapore and Vietnam will participate in 530 events in 56 sports.

The 30th SEA Games will open on 30 November at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan and will be held in different venues in Metro Manila, Clark, Pampanga, and Subic, Zambales. It will conclude at the New Clark City on 11 December.

The country won its first and so far, only, SEA Games overall championship in 2005, the last time it hosted the biennial meet.

The Philippines also hosted the 1981 and 1991 editions. (PNA)