No phone signal disruption during Apec meet — PNP chief

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) Wency Ledesma and Ariel Nogol, left, show the photos taken with their cellphones. The PNP said cellular phone signals would not be turned off when world leaders gather in Manila from Nov. 18-19, 2015, for the Apec meet.AP

Mobile phone signals will not be disrupted when top world leaders and foreign delegates gather in the Philippines next week for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit.

Unlike during the visit of Pope Francis in January when signal jammers were used for the pontiff’s security, authorities do not consider shutting down cell sites as a deterrent for security threats during the Apec week.

“Unlike in the Pope operations, shutting down cell sites is not part of the planning and preparation for the Apec,” said Philippine National Police chief Director General Ricardo Marquez, Apec task force commander.

Citing a “situation-driven” approach in the security of delegates, Marquez said how the Pope went around the areas he visited would be very much different when the heads of state travel during the economic leaders’ meeting.

“For one, the Pope travelled in an open vehicle. You know how the heads of state travel,” Marquez told reporters in an ambush interview.

“We wouldn’t like to do something that will inconvenience all of us,” he said.

Among the leaders coming to the Philippines are US President Barack Obama, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and over 10,000 delegates from the 21 Apec-member countries.

On Wednesday, the Philippine distributor of BMW donated to the Apec organizers some 200 units for the esteemed delegates and ministers.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police, through Department of Budget and Management, acquired 110 units of Toyota Altis for the transportation of other foreign delegates.