Philippine security forces have not monitored any specific threat from any group that would disrupt the 12th Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to be held on Dec. 10-14, according to retired Army Maj. Gen. Leo Alvez, assistant secretary general for security of the National Organizing Committee.

Speaking at a press conference at the newly finished Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) here Wednesday, Alvez said the government, nevertheless, is not taking chances as he disclosed that a very strong security force will secure the summit.

He also said the security forces have received information that some people are coming to Cebu to stage rallies during the summit.

"We are preparing for them in terms of demonstrations and other activities that they may think of only to disrupt the summit," he said.

Preparations have been made in coordination with all the security forces of the country, the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, including the Presidential Security Group, to ensure that militant groups would not disrupt the ASEAN Summit, Alvez said.

As of Wednesday, Alvez said, local fishermen and farmers are preparing to conduct demonstrations, "but we are monitoring their movements."

At the same time, he appealed to foreigners not to join any public demonstration during the summit in Cebu or they would be deported for breaking the law.

On a separate occasion, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Oscar Calderon said all security systems are in place for the 12th ASEAN Summit in Cebu.

"Our rehearsals and scenarios are one step ahead of any possibility," Oscar Calderon said at the weekly Talakayan Sa Isyung Pulis forum Tuesday.

Veteran riot police units from the National Capital Regional Police Office have been sent to Cebu for the Dec. 10 to 14 conference. They will train the local police on crowd control and security, Calderon said.

The PNP will field 6,000 police officers to secure the delegates. Lawmen will use 200 patrol jeeps, 200 patrol cars, 279 motorcycles, 5,000 firearms, 250 hand-held radios and 15 mobile and base radios, Calderon said.

He said law enforcers do a daily threat assessment, citing security risks and other incidents that could disrupt the conference.

On top of their monitoring tasks are planned rallies by militant organizations that want to play up the growing number of extrajudicial killings of Filipino activists.

The PNP, Calderon warned, would strictly enforce the "no permit, no rally" rule. Police have orders to arrest anyone, including foreigners, who violate the regulation.

"We have coordinated with the local government officials. If permits are given, we have to establish an area where they [ protesters] could conduct the rally," Calderon said.

Source: Xinhua