The Philippine National Police on Thursday said it is fully prepared to secure foreign delegates and visitors attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Senior Officials’ Meeting (ASEAN SEOM) Retreat in Boracay next week.
PNP Acting Chief P/Lt. General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said all security measures have been tightened ahead of the event, which will run from 10 to 13 December.
He ordered the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) and other involved units to maintain constant supervision and ensure continuous updates to security protocols throughout the week-long gathering.
“We are implementing a comprehensive security plan that covers all critical areas of Boracay including ports, beaches, and hotels. May mga checkpoints tayo, CCTV monitoring, at deployment ng highly trained personnel sa bawat key location,” Nartatez said, emphasizing the breadth of the preparations.
He added that the safety of both delegates and tourists remains the PNP’s top priority.
Coordination is ongoing with local government units, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and other law enforcement agencies to ensure a smooth and secure event.
About 1,500 police personnel from PRO-6 will be deployed across the island to safeguard roughly 200 ASEAN delegates expected to attend the retreat.
Nartatez reminded security forces to uphold professionalism and respect for human rights throughout the deployment.
“Siguraduhin natin na bawat operasyon ay nakabatay sa protocol at karapatan ng bawat tao. Work closely with community stakeholders, maintain high morale, and always prioritize coordination with other security forces,” he said.
He also urged personnel to perform at their best as global attention turns to Boracay during the high-level ASEAN meeting.
“Ang ating presensya ay para magbigay ng seguridad. The eyes of ASEAN and the world are on us so we must perform with excellence,” he added.