More Than 5,000 Deployed to Secure ASEAN Meetings in Cebu

More than 5,000 security personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines, and other government agencies have been deployed across Central Visayas to secure the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and related meetings scheduled from late January until the end of the month.

The deployment was formally launched during a send-off ceremony on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at Citi de Mari in the South Road Properties, led by Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) Director Brigadier General Redrico Maranan.

According to PRO-7, the security contingent includes 3,486 PNP personnel, supported by members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Office of Civil Defense, and the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. Additional support will come from the Department of Health, Naval Forces Central, and local disaster and traffic management units.

The security forces are backed by mobility and logistical assets, including 51 patrol cars, 50 motorcycles, two PNP Airbus units, and upgraded communication equipment for the command center.

Authorities said these resources are intended to ensure rapid response and seamless coordination throughout the duration of the ASEAN-related activities.

Maranan said the current deployment mirrors the security strength used during the Sinulog Festival, which successfully managed crowds exceeding 5.2 million people.

He added that the same level of preparedness was applied during earlier ASEAN activities in Bohol, which were conducted without any major incidents.

ASEAN meetings are set to resume on Sunday, January 25, 2026, and will be held in Cebu City, Mandaue City, and Lapu-Lapu City.

Cebu Province is hosting major events, including the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) and the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat (AMM), scheduled from January 26 to 30.

Preliminary reports indicate that at least 150 delegates are expected to attend the ATF, including tourism ministers, officials from national tourism organizations, and industry leaders from ASEAN member states.

The forum will feature tourism exhibits, networking sessions, and the ASEAN Tourism Conference, where participants are expected to discuss emerging trends and strategies to strengthen regional tourism cooperation.

Delegates will also be offered pre- and post-meeting tours to showcase Cebu’s tourist destinations.

The AMM Retreat, meanwhile, will gather foreign ministers and senior officials to discuss key regional concerns and future directions of the ASEAN bloc.

With high-profile delegates expected to move around the province, authorities said police visibility will be heightened in tourist areas and major thoroughfares throughout Cebu.

PRO-7 assured the public that no major road closures will be implemented during the meetings.

Instead, a “stop-and-go” traffic scheme will be enforced, under which vehicles will be halted briefly—usually for less than a minute—only when ASEAN convoys pass. Traffic will resume immediately afterward.

While authorities said there are no specific security threats at present, PRO-7 has placed all units on full alert status until the conclusion of the ASEAN activities on January 31, 2026.

A gun ban is also in effect across Central Visayas from January 17 to February 1, 2026, as part of the security measures.

Law enforcement agencies and partner institutions reiterated their commitment to ensure the safety of both ASEAN delegates and the general public, as Cebu hosts the high-level international gatherings.