NCRPO says SEA Games organize should coordinate if athletes, officials need security

November 26, 2019

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Tuesday asked the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games organizers to coordinate with them if the athletes and delegates will need extra security once they go out of their billeting areas.

In a press briefing, Police Brigadier General Debold Sinas, the acting NCRPO chief, said this was their observation on the first day of games held in Metro Manila.

“The most important right now, which happened last night, we observed that some athletes and delegates went to the mall. We are asking the organizer to inform our policemen,” Sinas said.

He said once the athletes go out without informing them, they will just be considered as tourists.

“Especially if they are wearing their uniforms, it will catch people’s attention and that is our concern,” Sinas said.

The NCRPO chief said the Philippine National Police- Highway Patrol Group is the assigned security for athletes and delegates.

“If they will not inform us, it’s okay but we prefer that we can call our men and inform them that athletes and delegates will be in their areas,” he said.

About the foreign football team who request for security assistance, Sinas said it was received through their 24-hour hotline. He said for the first day, they received a total of 25 concerns and inquiries.

Based on their data, around 1,008 athletes and delegates arrived in the country for the SEA Games so far.

“All the venues have been secured. All the billet areas were provided full deployment,” Sinas said.

“So far, except for the minor glitches, the implementation of full alert and full deployment went smoothly. The athletes were able to compete in their events,” he added.

Sinas said they are monitoring the event as they are expecting more athletes, including heads of states, to arrive before November 30.

“All security arrangement, coordination with other concerned offices has already been sent. Hopefully, it will meet all the challenges during the SEA Games,” he said. Ella Dionisio/DMS