Be vigilant, Lorenzana tells ASEAN security teams

FILE: National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana urged military and police units tasked to secure the leaders and delegations attending next week’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit to be vigilant at all times. (PNA Photo)

MANILA — National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana urged military and police units tasked to secure the leaders and delegations attending next week’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit to be vigilant at all times.

“We cannot be very complacent. We should be aware, we should be on guard. Kung pwede lang talagang strikto yung palakad natin sa security so that walang mangyari (We need to be strict in implementing tight security measures to prevent any untoward incident),” Lorenzana said on the sidelines of the Department of National Defense’s 78th founding anniversary ceremony Monday.

He said no security threat has been detected so far.

An estimated 60,000 personnel from 21 agencies and their equipment will be deployed to various ASEAN meeting venues in Metro Manila, Bulacan and Pampanga to secure the week-long event.

Lorenzana added that should anything untoward happen during the ASEAN Summit, there would be a massive backlash against the Philippines.

“So, it is very important that we should secure the heads of state while (they are) here. Kasi kung may mangyari sa kanila dyan, may bukol sa atin yan e (If something happens to them, we will be liable). It will backfire on us,” the defense chief added.