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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PH military to secure world leaders during ASEAN Summit

PH military to secure world leaders during ASEAN Summit

Published Jan 8, 2026 02:20 pm
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. attends the 20th East Asia Summit during the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Oct 27, 2025. (Photo courtesy of PCO)
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. attends the 20th East Asia Summit during the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Oct 27, 2025. (Photo courtesy of PCO)
The Philippine military will ensure the security of world leaders who will be attending the upcoming Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits in Cebu and Manila, which the country is hosting this year.
The ASEAN National Organizing Council (NOC) on Thursday, Jan. 8, expressed its preparation for the logistical aspects and the security of all related ASEAN events that will begin by the end of the month.
NOC held its first press briefing since the Philippines assumed the ASEAN chairship at the start of the year to discuss measures it already has in place.
The ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) and the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM), attended by foreign ministers and other senior foreign government officials, are scheduled in Cebu starting Jan. 27.
Meanwhile, the 48th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits are set also in Cebu in May, while the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits are scheduled in Manila in November. These events are attended by world leaders.
"For ministerial officials and working group meetings, it's the responsibility of the Philippine National Police, supported by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)," Major General Potenciano Camba, operations head for NOC's Office of the Director General for Operations, said.
"When it comes to the Summit, of the Leaders Summit, it will be the Armed Forces of the Philippines, which are primarily responsible in securing the leaders," he also said, adding that complete or partial lockdowns might be implemented.
ASEAN Summits are attended by presidents or prime ministers of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste , and Vietnam.
Meanwhile, ASEAN Related Summits are attended by leaders of ASEAN dialogue partners, which are Australia, Canada, China, the European Union, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States; as well as foreign ministers and senior government officials of various countries.
According to Camba, there is now a delineation of responsibilities among the country's law enforcement agencies, and "the whole of government bureaucracy is utilized" for the success of the Philippines' hosting of the ASEAN.
The Philippines' chairship of the ASEAN 2026 came as the biggest corruption scandal to hit the nation, which is marked by huge nationwide protests, remains unsolved.
As threats of mass demonstrations remain possible, NOC said, it is just coordinating with the local government units that are hosting the events regarding security measures to be put in place.
"We remind ourselves that we are democracy, and we allow those voices be heard," Undersecretary Ma. Hellen de la Vega, director for NOC Office of the Director General for Operations, said.
Camba said there is still "no direct threat" to the Philippines regarding its hosting of the ASEAN events, and the government is hoping that no untoward incident will happen.
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