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BY RUBY P. SILUBRICO
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ILOILO City – The Philippine National Police (PNP) is suspending all permits to carry firearms outside of residence (PTCFOR) in this city from March 3 to 20, 2017.
The 18-day gun ban seeks to ensure the security of hundreds of delegates attending three meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Only members of the police, Armed Forces of the Philippines and other law enforcement agencies performing official duties are allowed to carry firearms, said Superintendent Gilbert Gorero, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office 6.
They must also be in their agency-prescribed uniform, he stressed.
The PTCFOR suspension was approved by PNP’s Director General Ronald Dela Rosa based on the request of the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Iloilo City.
Iloilo City is hosting the following ASEAN meetings:
* 22nd Senior Officials Committee for the ASCC (SOCA) Meeting from March 6 to 9
* 17th ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Council (ASCC) Meeting from March 6 to 9
* 3rd ASEAN – Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Good Regulatory Practice Network Meeting from March 14 to 16
“We want to assure our visitors that they are safe. Iloilo City is a peaceful place,” said Gorero.
As early as March 1, policemen will already be mobilized.
“Expect round-the-clock checkpoints,” said Senior Inspector Shella Mae Sangrines, spokesperson of the Iloilo City Police Office.
This is not the first time Iloilo City is hosting a huge international event. It hosted meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation on disaster risk reduction, small, and medium enterprises, and food security from Sept. 21 to Oct. 6, 2015. The Iloilo Convention Center was the site of these meetings.
Meanwhile, foreign ministers of the 10 member countries of ASEAN yesterday underscored in Boracay Island the need to maintain unity in the Southeast Asian region.
This was their first meeting for this year’s summit under the Philippine chairmanship.
The Philippines’ Foreign Affairs secretary Perfecto Yasay said Southeast Asian ministers agreed on the need to maintain ASEAN centrality and unity.
In a press conference held after the meeting, Yasay said it was important to have a credible, elective and cohesive ASEAN response in addressing its domestic and regional challenges.
He said the ASEAN ministers’ meeting also highlighted the need to continue having initiatives that benefit the people of ASEAN.
Yasay said this included “the need to redouble efforts to decrease intra-regional trade,” adding that consular assistance given to ASEAN nationals will likewise be strengthened to promote deeper regional integration.
Yasay said the foreign ministers likewise exchange views on regional issues of common interest including the West Philippine Sea dispute./PN
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