15,000 policemen, troops tapped for SEA Games
15,000 policemen, troops tapped for SEA Games
Agence France-Presse
Manila
A security task force composed of 15,000 police and soldiers
will be on duty to thwart terrorist attacks and other threats
when the Philippines hosts the 23rd Southeast Asian Games next
month, organizers said on Tuesday.
Authorities will not be leaving anything to chance when 5,000
athletes from 10 countries converge in Manila and in other parts
of the Philippines amid reports that Jamaah Islamiyah (JI)
bombers could carry out suicide bombings, they said.
"They will be chaperoned by security," whenever the athletes
go to functions and events, said Jose Cojuangco, chairman of the
organizing committee and the Philippine Olympic Committee.
"We are doing pretty well in terms of security," he told
foreign correspondents, stressing that local intelligence
officials will also be working closely with others from the
region in the wake the recent Bali bomb attacks that left at
least 20 dead.
Regional intelligence officials said they believe at least two
ranking JI leaders have been hiding out in the southern
Philippines, including Dulmatin. The US government last week
offered a US$10 million reward for any information leading to the
capture of the militant.
National police director Rodolfo Tor, the games security
chief, said police units in areas outside Manila where there
would be scheduled events have also been put on heightened alert.
"There will be 15,000 policemen and other force multipliers"
from the armed forces, he said.
"We are aware of what's happening in the region," Tor said,
referring to the Bali attacks. "We have ample intelligence units
who will be assisting us in monitoring these terrorist targets."
This year's games, to be held in five venues across the
Philippines, is the biggest in terms of the number of
disciplines, organizers said.
A total of 441 gold medals will be up for grabs in 41 events,
with the Philippine martial arts as well as dance sport making
their SEA Games debuts as medal events.