AFP optimistic of peaceful ASEAN Summit

FILE: Col. Edgard Arevalo (PNA PHOTO)

MANILA — While it is prepared for all eventualities, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) hopes that the ongoing ASEAN 2017 Summit will conclude without any incident.

“We look forward to a significant, successful, safe and secured conduct of the summit banking on the tedious preparations and many rehearsals we had with other agencies of government,” AFP public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said late Sunday.

The ASEAN 2017 Summit started on Saturday and will end on Tuesday. He added that all AFP units tasked for ASEAN duties and to support the police, are now in place.

“They were divided into units and given specific tasks. Our other units dedicated for the ASEAN are on standby for any contingencies,” Arevalo pointed out.

The military official said they are relying on teamwork, cooperation, and interoperability of units with their counterparts to achieve the goal of ensuring that ASEAN ends without any untoward incident.