Philippines assures security of APEC delegates

A policeman is injected with a flu vaccine as a preventive measure against potential illness while on duty for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) during the APEC security preparation briefing in Pasay city, metro Manila, Nov 11, 2015. APEC summit meeting will be held in Manila on November 18-19. [Photo/Agencies]

MANILA - The Philippine government assured Wednesday the security of all the participants in the upcoming Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, citing there is no "specific threat" that could impact the country's hosting of the regional event.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ricardo Marquez, also the head of the APEC Security Task Force, said they are confident of their security plans for the Nov 18 - 19 meeting that will gather some 21 leaders and heads of states.

"There is no specific threat for us hosting, holding the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting next week. We are very, very confident already that we have put up a very good security plan," he told reporters.

So far, the PNP group has successfully handled 36 APEC events, he added.

Marquez noted that in these events, they brought the "best people" and gathered the "best practices".

"We applied the major event security framework of APEC. Our people learned all the job. This is the final show, so we are very, very confident that our security preparedness is so excellent," he said.

Marquez said 70 percent of the security team deployed for the APEC are PNP personnel, but credited the Metro Manila Development Authority for the traffic scheme, the Philippine Coast Guard for maritime security, and the Philippine Air Force for air traffic and security.