13,000 police to guard ASEAN meeting in Philippines

By Roy Ramos

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (AA) - Around 13,000 police are to be deployed to safeguard a high-level, week-long meeting of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers in the Philippines on Wednesday.

Police Chief Supt. Oscar Albayalde in a news briefing said 13,000 police have been deployed, along with almost 1,290 attached personnel from other agencies, to ensure the safety of the 1,700 delegates including 27 foreign ministers from both ASEAN and non-member states.

ASEAN -- a regional bloc of 10 countries comprising Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam was founded on August 8, 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, the current chair of the regional bloc, is expected to deliver the keynote address at the anniversary celebration.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is also expected to attend the 24th ASEAN Regional Forum, also taking place in Manila.