PNP chief: Davao blast, Sulu beheading 'very separate' from APEC summit

The Philippine National Police on Wednesday said it is not disregarding the bombing in Davao City and the Abu Sayyaf Group's beheading in Sulu of their Malaysian captive even as it is busy securing world leaders attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit.

 

PNP chief Director General Ricardo Marquez told reporters that they have considered such incidents when they were preparing the security plan for the APEC.

 

“We don’t disregard ang mga pangyayaring iyon pero ang mahalaga sa amin is noon aming pine-prepare ‘yung secutiry plan, ay naisip namin yun. Kasama sa contingency planning yun,” he said.

 

Marquez also clarified that the bombing in Davao City, which left one person injured, and the beheading of Malaysian kidnap victim Bernard Ghen Ted Fen were “very separate” from the ongoing APEC events.

 

Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Col. Restituto Padilla Jr. also said in a separate press briefing that the two incidents were not related to the country’s hosting of the APEC Summit.

 

“Wala po itong kaugnayan sa ating pagho-host. Ang nakuha naming initial information ay failure lang po sa negotiation tungkol sa pera at bayaran,” Padilla said.

 

Marquez said that as of Tuesday night, security forces have not received any reports of threats against the summit.

 

“Until last night wala pa naman namo-monitor,” he said.

 

The APEC Summit is attended by over 10,000 delegates including 21 heads of economies. —ALG, GMA News