NCRPO to go on full alert on Nov. 25 for SEA Games

November 15, 2019

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will raise their alert status to ful" for the 30th Southeast Asia (SEA) Games, an official said on Friday.

In a press briefing, Police Brigadier General Debold Sinas said it was recommended by the security task force commander for them to raise their alert status on November 25 up to December 14.

This was mentioned after Sinas said they will be on heightened alert by the time he deploys the 8, 000 NCR cops for SEA Games.

The 30th SEA Games will be formally open by November 30. 

"Official deployment will be on November 22, that is the first day players will arrived here. During that time, we are still on heightened alert," he said.

"But as time goes by and they (guest and visitors) starts arriving by November 24-25, the task force commander recommended (that by) November 25 we will be on full alert up to December 14," he said.

Sinas said they have identified 27 billeting areas and 19 venues with 24 sports activities in NCR. 

He said they are still checking if there is a need to deploy additional personnel.

"We did not move our regular deployment. These are just dedicated for the SEA games," he said.

Of the 8, 000 NCRPO personnel, 3,000 will be assigned for venue and billeting, including those who be plainclothes cops while 5,000 will be for public safety task force.

Sinas said those who will not wear police uniforms are assigned inside venues and hotels. "They will also not carry firearms," he said.

As of now, the NCRPO has not received any threats.

"As of now, we have coordinated with our counterparts and NICA (National Intelligence Coordinating Agency), we did not receive any threats so far. We just comply to the directive to secure the venues," Sinas said.

Asked about the simultaneous exercise they conducted Thursday, Sinas said maintaining visibility and communication were things they have to improve.

"It will be like stop and go, we will not close the roads. They will just go in between," he said.

He said they are ready to provide security assistance to the athletes who will request. Ella Dionisio/DMS