PNoy to tackle territorial security at ASEAN summit

JAKARTA, Indonesia —President Benigno Aquino III has pledged to advance Philippine territorial security and protect Filipinos from human smuggling, drug trafficking, and piracy, while in Jakarta, Indonesia for the 18th ASEAN Summit this weekend. The President also said he and the other ASEAN leaders will also tackle measures on pollution, disaster preparedness and rapid response in times of disasters and crises. “This way, we will take care of the welfare and rights of our countrymen in the Philippines and overseas," Aquino said before boarding his chartered flight to Indonesia late afternoon Friday. The ASEAN Summit has for its theme: "ASEAN Community in a Global Community of Nations." Security measures in Indonesia have been put in place to ensure the safety of the delegates, according to the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said, “Aside from the security that will be provided by Indonesia, the President will be secured by his own security personnel." The PCOO said Indonesian authorities have tightened security measures against possible revenge attacks by extremists with ties to al Qaeda. The al Qaeda-linked terrorist network Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) is alleged to have staged the 2002 Bali bombings that killed more than 200 people, many of them foreigners. ASEAN — the Association of Southeast Asian Nations — is a regional bloc that groups Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore,Thailand and Vietnam. Indonesia police downplays terror threats The Indonesian National Police was cautious Friday about mentioning any security threats in relation to the summitto be held here May 7 and 8 — a week after al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was assassinated by United States special forces in Pakistan on May 2 (May 1 in the US). In an interview with Philippine media, General Untung Yoga, chief of the public information division of the Indonesian national police, said the security situation in Jakarta is “going very well." “The Indonesian police picked up the security circumstances for this condition especially for ASEAN summit. And based on our survey, everything is OK," he said. Some 7,000 police and military personnel have been deployed to secure the proceedings. Of the number, 4,385 police officers were sent to secure the venue the Jakarta Convention Center. Jemaah Islamiyah, al Qaeda When asked if threats have been received against this year’s summit, especially after bin Laden's death, Yoga said the Indonesian police are ready for anything. “The Indonesian police are now investigating and analyzing possible... (links) from one group to another group. And that is why the Indonesian police are now quite ready... (for) every condition... Hopefully, we will not have any obstacle and significant problem in Indonesia," he said. Al Qaeda has connections with the Indonesian-based JI. “Whether there will be correlation between one group to another group, that is another matter because the point for the Indonesian police is to keep the security system in Indonesia," he said. He added they are still investigating if there are still JI members in Indonesia. “It is still under study and investigation of the police because it is very difficult and not easy for Indonesian police to mention if one group has any relation with another group. The Indonesian police should be very careful in mentioning those things," he said. ASEAN delegates secure In a separate interview, Gatot Dawabroto, publication and documentation coordinator for the summit, said the local police and other security forces are all set to secure the delegates. “We are sure that there will be no threat[s] during the ASEAN Summit, and we don’t want to create any bad image for Indonesia during the summit. That is why all the intelligence groups have helped in providing security here," Dawabroto said. He added that they have coordinated with international police organizations as part of the procedures in securing the summit delegates. — With a report by Jesse Edep/ELR/MRT/VS, GMA News