After Pope visit, PHL gov’t ready to secure APEC delegates

The Philippine government is ready to secure Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) delegates after protecting Pope Francis during his recently concluded visit to the Philippines, officials said Friday.

 

At a press briefing, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesman Charles Jose said security officials are already “taking appropriate measures” to ensure the safety of participants in various APEC meetings to be held in the Philippines throughout the year.

 

“Actually, nakatulong nga ‘yung visit ng Pope. So, sabi nga, nagkaroon na tayo ng dry run and it was shown that we are really capable of ensuring the security of [the delegates],” Jose told reporters in Malacañang.

 

Last December, the Philippines hosted the APEC Informal Senior Officials Meeting in Manila. The APEC Senior Officials Meeting and Related Meetings will meanwhile be held in Pampanga next week.

 

World leaders from APEC’s 21 member-states will fly to the Philippines later this year for the annual Economic Leaders’ Meeting.

 

Meanwhile, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said security preparations for the APEC meetings will be “very different” from the papal visit, primarily because crowds are not expected to flock to APEC events.

 

“Security preparations will be just as tight, just as strict, and just as thorough but without the view for public events for the visiting leaders of the member economies,” Valte said.

 

Pope Francis’ visit to the Philippines from January 15 to 19 drew millions of Filipinos, with an estimated six million Catholic faithful attending his concluding Mass at the Quirino Grandstand. — Andreo Calonzo/RSJ, GMA News