Philippines: Police on high alert before ASEAN summit Nov. 8 /update 1

Event

Police forces in parts of the Philippines will be placed on the highest alert status starting Wednesday, November 8, in advance of the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Pampanga province. The summit - which is expected to draw 19 world leaders and thousands of regional delegates to Pampanga and nearby Manila - is scheduled to take place from Friday, November 10, to Tuesday, November 14. US President Donald Trump will be among those in attendance. The elevated security alert will be in effect through November 15, and will involve the deployment of approximately 60,000 soldiers and police officers. While the Philippine National Police (PNP) declared that there is no "present and imminent [security] threat" facing the planned ASEAN summit in Pampanga or in Manila, the police's elevated security alert comes amid several Western governments citing a high threat of terrorism in the country, including in the capital.

Due to heightened security measures and increased congestion in Pampanga province and Manila during the event, significant transportation disruptions are expected before and during the summit. Road closures are planned along routes to be traveled by delegates between Clark Freeport Zone (Pampanga province) and Manila, and flight disruptions are expected at Clark International Airport (CRK) in advance of the high-level talks. The ASEAN 2017 National Organizing Council declared non-working days in Metro Manila, Pampanga, and Bulacan from Monday, November 13, through Wednesday, November 15. Academic classes will also be canceled in Pampanga and Bulacan over this period, and classes will be canceled in Metro Manila from Monday, November 13, to Friday, November 17.

Context

This year's ASEAN summit comes as the Philippines and its President Rodrigo Duterte face increased international scrutiny for alleged human rights violations amid an ongoing crackdown on drugs in the country, while continuing to battle various Islamist groups active in the south.

Human Rights Watch has accused President Duterte's government of facilitating police violence and extrajudicial killings of criminal suspects, particularly those allegedly linked to drug trafficking. In the first four months of Duterte's term, from July 1 to November 3, 2016, the Philippine police killed roughly 1790 "drug pushers and users," according to Human Rights Watch - 20 times the number of police killings recorded from January 1 to June 15, 2016.​ Protests denouncing this heavy-handed crackdown have occurred in the recent past.

Clashes in Marawi (Lanao del Sur province) between Islamist militants and Philippines security forces started in May, following a botched government raid on a hideout sheltering the late Isnilon Hapilon, former leader of Islamic State (IS)-affiliated Abu Sayyaf group. Around 1100 people, including at least 897 militants, 167 security personnel, and 57 civilians, died in the subsequent fighting, with at least another 600,000 people displaced in the fighting between government forces and the IS-affiliated Abu Sayyaf, Maute, and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) groups.

Martial law was declared throughout Mindanao Island, where Marawi is located, and is currently set to remain in place until December 31.

Advice

Individuals in areas affected by the upcoming ASEAN summit are advised to anticipate transportation disruptions and allow for additional time to travel. Remain vigilant, particularly in areas deemed particularly likely to be targeted in an attack (transportation hubs, government building, crowded public areas, etc.), and report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities. Individuals in the affected areas are also advised to avoid any potential protests that may arise.