PRO 7 Says No APEC-related Incidents So Far

The Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 said there were no reports of incidents related to the ongoing Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit senior ministers meetings in Cebu.

Chief Superintendent Prudencio Tom Bañas, PRO 7 director, said police personnel were deployed even in hotels where the delegates are staying.

Banas said senior officials will be given security escorts when they come for the meetings in Cebu.

At least 882 delegates have so far arrived in Cebu to attend a series of meetings that officially started last Monday and will end on Sept. 11.

Organizers said some 3,200 foreign delegates are expected to attend 35 high-level meetings from Aug. 24 to Sept. 11, Oct. 8 to 10 and Oct. 12 to 13 in Cebu.

“We have good results in securing the APEC delegates,” Bañas said.

But Banas said some international delegates were reported went to tourist spots in Cebu and other provinces.

He said he learned that three international delegates traveled to Bohol and joined a cruise on the Loboc River earlier this week.

He said they did not inform the police assistance desks or the Department of Tourism assistance desks in their hotels.

He said this is a challenge to the security preparations, but these delegates were not the ones who need security escorts.

Banas said the police are still concerned about them as the country’s guests and were secured by the police personnel in Bohol. (PNA) FFC/EB/SGP