US donates 3 robots, equipment to detect chemical, nuke devices

FOR APEC SECURITY The United States has donated bomb detection and disposal equipment to the Philippine National Police to help secure the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Leaders’ Summit in Manila next week. The US Embassy turned over the equipment to the PNP at Camp Crame on Monday. NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

THREE US robots and vans equipped to detect chemical and nuclear explosive devices are reinforcing security measures for delegates in next week’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit.

On Monday, the US Bureau of Diplomatic Security Office of Anti-Terrorism Assistance donated to the Philippine National Police six pickup trucks and various equipment for explosives and ordnance disposal (EOD), including the three portable remote-controlled clawed and wheeled robots, outfitted with cameras.

The donations will help secure the Apec summit to be attended by 21 heads of state, PNP Director General Ricardo Marquez said during turnover ceremonies at Camp Crame.

“In every hotel, route and venue, there will be an EOD-K9 unit, and these equipment will be very helpful in making sure that our people will be able to perform their jobs properly,” Marquez said.

Thomas McDonough, US Embassy regional security officer, said: “I was joking with the [PNP] chief that you have three new recruits now in the PNP—the three robots that just joined you. I know you will make them welcome.”

“This equipment that we are able to donate to our friends in the PNP comes at a very timely moment. We all know that we are getting ready for a very large undertaking—this job of Apec. The PNP will be shouldering most of the burden … the PNP will have the day-in and day-out work of the Apec, so we are very glad that the equipment are going to the Apec efforts,” McDonough said.

He expressed hopes the equipment could help make the police officers’ job “easier, safer and more modern.”

Aside from the robots and the trucks, the donations also included nine post-blast investigation kits and 20 explosives incident countermeasure kits.

Marquez said that over the week, the US Department of Energy also donated four mobile vans for chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives detection.

Marquez said that while “there has been no threat” as yet to the summit, the alert level for police in Metro Manila would be raised by Monday next week.

“Of course, the preparation is much different. We have put together the best people. We have gathered the best practices all over the country, and I think the President recognizes the peculiarity of the preparation for this Apec,” Marquez said.

The Apec security task force is made up of 20 agencies, he said. “The sole instruction is there should be zero incident,” he added.

“We only host Apec every 20 years, and hosting Apec is an honor for our country. So I call again our people to be all hosts for next week,” Marquez said.

After the summit, Marquez said the equipment would be distributed to various police units.