The Philippine National Police (PNP) is set to declare a full alert status starting Friday, November 13, in preparation for the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, which will take place from November 15 to 17. This significant regional meeting will host foreign leaders and delegations from 11 member states, alongside dialogue partners including China, South Korea, Japan, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, India, and Canada. The PNP aims to ensure maximum security during this high-profile event, which is expected to attract considerable attention.

PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Allen Rae Co announced that the full alert status will apply to police units in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon. This measure will remain in effect until November 19, although it may be extended if necessary. Co emphasized that this status means a complete presence of police personnel, with over 19,000 officers deployed specifically for the summit, supplemented by more than 3,000 personnel from various government agencies, bringing the total security force to nearly 23,000. The deployment will cover essential areas such as crowd management, summit venues, billeting areas, hotels, and medical services.S2

Despite the extensive security measures, the PNP has assessed the threat level as low, indicating that while there are some concerns about potential disorderly conduct and opportunistic theft, there are no major threats anticipated. This proactive approach reflects the PNP's commitment to ensuring a safe environment for both attendees and the general public during the ASEAN Summit, a critical event for regional cooperation and dialogue.S2