TG Bohol pins feather to cap

for safe-keeping ASEAN reps

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, September 22, (PIA)—Except for the called bomb scare that stirred security operatives in Tagbilaran, the Bohol hosting of the dialogues of the 34th Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Maritime Transport Security Technical Working Group (TWG) went seamless and Task Group Bohol pinned another record to its feathered cap. 

And the credits go to Task Group Bohol, led by its commander Police Chief Superintendent Jose Mario Espino, Central Visayas regional police chief and his deputy commanders: Brigadier General Arnulfo Matanguihan of the Philippine Army and Regional Director Concepcion Ornopia of the Office of the Civil Defense in the region. 

Over 104 delegates from 10 ASEAN countries as well as another country observer to the dialogs converged in Bohol from September 19 to 21 to shared ideas and discuss maritime transport policies that would be adopted to further open the maritime boundaries of the member ASEAN countries.

Already the second ASEAN meeting held here, TG Bohol Deputy Commander BGen Matanguihan earlier said it would be his first assignment as during the first ASEAN Meetings, he was with his men minding the Abu Sayyaf terrorists in Inabanga. 

The job was also a first for PCSupt Espino as the first meeting had PCSupt Noli Taliño as TG commander. 

The over-all goal is to have no ASEAN related incident during the dialogues, and if there is any, to be able to respond as quickly and contain the problem, directs PCSupt. Espino to the TG Bohol during the send off ceremonies. 

And on to the task of making sure everything falls into place and safeguard the international and local delegates are 3,576 men and women of Task Group Bohol.

Already teamed into three working sub-task-groups (STG) and one doing the secretariat operations, TG Bohol is comprised of STG Security under PSSupt Franklin Mabanag, STG Peace and Order under PSSupt Dennis Agustin and STG Emergency Preparedness and Response under Engr Ver Neil balaba of the OCD. 

At the send-off ceremonies Sunday, September 17, National Disaster Coordination Council Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad joined PCSupt Jose Mario Espino and Deputy Commanders Colonel BGen Arnulfo Matanguihan represented by Col Noel Baluyan and the Office of the Civil Defense with Regional Director Concepcion Ornopia in officiating the send-off ceremony for the men deployed for the special ASEAN mission.

The send-off ceremony started off with a Holy Mass officiated by Rev Fr. Craig Jubac at the Panglao Plaza while the over three thousand men stood for their blessings and their equipment, mid-afternoon of Sunday.

Police General Espino said 2,082 men and women comprise the peace and order force during the meetings set in a posh resort in Panglao September 19-21.

Another 800 men and women form the security cordon and force for the estimated 200 delegates from ASEAN member countries and the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), the host of the ASEAN Maritime Transport Security TWG meetings.

Some 513 men and women also left their homes and families to render emergency preparedness and response, medical and emergency personnel who would be deployed to man staging areas and rescue teams liberally covering stretches of roads from the airport and pier to the conference venue.

At the nearby Multi-Agency Coordinating Center (MACC) situated in another resort but in proximity to the conference venue, 181 men and women would be manning the over-all operations 24/7, from the command center here, PCSupt. Espino told media during a press conference.

The goal is to achieve another resounding success manifested by a zero ASEAN related incident, Usec Jalad emphasized as he told everyone: the ultimate goal is to have another successful hosting of the ASEAN.

I expect all to be performing our jobs to the best of our abilities towards zero ASEAN related incident and should there be anything untoward, for everyone to do our best to make the best response, Usec Jalad said.

Aside from the manpower deployment, authorities also put up fire trucks and Hazardous Materials Special response vehicles, patrol cars, patrol motorcycles, aluminum and rubber boats including steel hulled floating assets of the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Navy, Maritime Police, heavy trucks, personnel carriers and a fleet of utility vans for the mobility of men and personnel.

At the send-off too, Governor Edgar Chatto welcomed the officers and men from other provinces as well as Boholanos whose services has to put them for duty during the meetings.

To everyone, welcome to another important event to showcase the best of Bohol, the governor said.

The governor also hoped for everyone to allow Bohol to make another successful hosting of the ASEAN, after the April ASEAN Trade Conferences in Panglao.

He hoped there would be no significant ASEAN event that would mar the good record of Bohol as it would also showcase President Rodrigo Duterte’s hosting of the 50th ASEAN this year. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)