PHL assures extra security for APEC meet following kidnapping of three foreigners

(Updated 8:09 p.m.) Amid the kidnapping of three foreigners in Mindanao, the Philippine government vowed on Tuesday to enforce tighter security measures for world leaders and delegates when they gather in Manila in November for an economic summit.

 

“The Philippines is committed to hosting a successful APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM) by implementing security measures that would ensure the safety of all APEC Leaders, delegates and guests,” said Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose who is also spokesperson for the upcoming APEC meet.

The statement was issued following the abduction of two Canadians, one Norwegian and a Filipino woman from a resort in Samal Island by unidentified gunmen late Monday night.

 

“The incident in Samal Island is being addressed by our concerned authorities to resolve the issue and ensure that the hosting of the AELM is not affected,” Jose said.

 

Scheduled on November 18 and 19, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit or APEC Summit is an annual high-level gathering of leaders from the region’s 21 economies.

 

Those expected to attend in the meeting in Manila are US President Barack Obama, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

 

APEC members include Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), Thailand, United States and Vietnam.

 

Hundreds of delegates that include government officials, business leaders and foreign journalists are also expected in the meeting.

Samal Island kidnapping

Gunmen kidnapped three foreigners and a Filipina from a resort on Samal Island in Davao del Norte, Monday night.
 
Superintendent Lito Impas of the Samal Island police told RGMA Davao's Raul Tolibas that at least 20 armed men wearing balaclavas and black shirts stormed the Ocean View Resort in Barangay Camudmud, Babak district before 11 p.m.
 
The gunmen reportedly initially took six people, but a Canadian named Steven and his Japanese wife, Kazuka, were able to jump from the kidnappers' boat. The couple is now confined at a district hospital on the island.
 
The four kidnapped victims were identified as Kjartan Sekkingstad, a Norwegian and operations manager of the resort; Canadians John Ridsdel and Robert Hall and his Filipina girlfriend identified only as Tess.

AFP, PNP ready

The Philippine National Police on Tuesday is already in the thick of preparations for the APEC summit, its spokesman told GMA News Online.

"The PNP is preparing for any contingencies. This afternoon, the Chief PNP (Director General Ricardo Marquez) presided the contingency planning sessions held in camp crame attended by the different task force commanders of APEC," said PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor.

Col. Restituto Padilla, the chief of the Public Information Office of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said the AFP and the Philippine National Police are working to rescue the victims.

"We are working with the police and perhaps the police will come out with that announcement soon as soon as they are done with their investigaiton," Padilla told reporters.

"For the moment, we can assure the public that the joint forces of government... are all working hand in hand together with our land forces where the Army units are located hopefully to locate and catch these abductors and rescue the victims that they got last night," he added. — Michaela del Callar with a report from Trisha Macas/RSJ/NB, GMA News