CAMP GEN. VICENTE LIM, Calamba City – The top commander of the Security Task Force (STF) in Southern Luzon for the 30th Southeast Asian Games on Wednesday assured the safety of participants during events to be held south of Manila from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11 this year.
In a media interview, Police Brig. Gen. Rey Lyndon T. Lawas, the STF Commander of the 30th Southeast Asian Games, said security and safety arrangements are now being polished with the remaining few adjustments based on the rigid plan and situation reported to the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC).
“We are 100 percent ready. As of now, there is no direct eminent threat in the staging of the 30th Southeast Asian Games,” he said.
Lawas, along with retired Gen. Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr., PHISGOC Functional Area Director for Games Security and Safety, graced the send-off ceremony of the TF Southern Luzon forces and resources for the SEA Games held at the grandstand of the Police Regional Office (PRO4A) Calabarzon command headquarters.
Besides ensuring the safety and security of athletes, sports officials and other guests, including sports venues, billeting and other critical areas, he said the TF contingent numbering around 7,899 will be deployed including in tourist areas for the delegates who want to go there.
“The community is involved in this event. We are not talking only about government agencies. This is a whole-of-nation approach because if we talk about the SEA Games, we’re not talking only of the government, but we’re talking of the whole country,” he said.
Lawas said the deployed cops were instructed to make the community aware of the hosting of the SEA Games and encouraged all Filipinos to support and be participative in the activities.
He added that the Security Task Force has established operations centers to act immediately on any untoward incidents or vital information, which could be relayed to the right persons in the functional areas.
For his part, Catapang acknowledged the deployment of the STF consisting of the Calabarzon police, Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM) soldiers, firefighters, coast guards, jail management and penology officers, Philippine Red Cross, Office of Civil Defense-Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) rescue and emergency responders, and civil society organizations (CSO) volunteers as force multipliers.
Catapang also lauded the TF Southern Luzon preparations and witnessed the simultaneous operations of the equipment and inspected the troop formation as the series of colored smoke signaled the official send-off with their banner taglines “We Work As One, We Win As One, TG Southern Luzon” flashed through the parade grounds.
The Task Force will be deployed to various sports venues for polo at the Miguel Romero Sports Club in Calatagan and Zobel Farm Polo Field in Nasugbu, both in Batangas; cycling (Tagaytay City and Batangas); skateboarding (Tagaytay and Maragondon, Cavite); women’s football (Biñan Football Field and UP Football Stadium); underwater hockey (Vermosa Sports Hub, Imus City); netball (Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna); and floorball and indoor hockey (Los Baños Central Mall & Convention Center). (PNA)
