MANILA - Security preparations for Monday’s formal signing of the framework agreement forged between the government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Malacanang are all set, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) declared on Sunday.
Chief Supt. Leonardo Espina, NCRPO director, said that as part of the police’s standard operating procedure (SOP), whenever foreign leaders are arriving in the country, the entire NCRPO is on heightened alert status.
”Regarding security preparations, all’s ready –area, route, mobile security for tomorrow’s (Monday’s) signing of framework agreement between the government and the MILF in Malacanang for all our visiting guests,” he declared Sunday.
According to Espina, he held a conference with all Metro Manila police districts on Saturday to finalize the security preparations.
”I met all my officers plus all from allied police units Saturday for the purpose to ensure preparedness. Alert status is heightened in line with our SOP whenever foreign heads of state visit our country,” said Espina.
”This is for the purposes of mustering enough number of my personnel to attend to their respective tasks in this momentous event,” he added.
The formal signing of the framework agreement forged by the GPH and MILF peace panels is scheduled on Monday in Malacanang with President Benigno S. Aquino III and Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Sri bin Haji Mohammad Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak witnessing the historic event.
On the other hand, MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim is expected to lead the MILF delegation. This is the first time that Murad, along with other MILF officials, will set foot on Malacanang.
Aside from Abdul Razak, other foreign dignitaries are expected to witness the signing, including members of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) and the International Contact Group (ICG).
Security officials have stated earlier that there were no monitored threats against the signing of the framework agreement which is seen to lead to a comprehensive peace pact to bring about just and lasting peace in Mindanao.
The agreement was welcomed not only in the country but also by the international community led by the United States and the European Union.
Article Source: Interaksyon.com, The online news portal of TV5
