A massive security contingent of more than 7,300 personnel from various government agencies has been mobilized to secure the 2026 ASEAN Summit in Cebu, the Philippine National Police (PNP) announced Sunday.
PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. spearheaded the official send-off ceremony at the Mactan Shrine in Lapu-Lapu City on Saturday. The event signaled the full activation of the Task Group Central Visayas, a multi-agency force integrating the PNP, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and disaster response units.
The comprehensive security plan encompasses site protection, convoy security, maritime and airspace surveillance, and emergency medical services.
To validate these measures, Nartatez conducted an aerial inspection of key transport routes and venues across Central Visayas to ensure operational readiness.
“This operation is the result of extensive planning and sustained coordination, drawing from established best practices in previous national and international events. We are fully prepared to ensure a safe and secure ASEAN Summit,” Nartatez said in a news release.
The summit, scheduled for May 7 and 8 in Lapu-Lapu City, will see regional leaders gather to discuss economic integration and security cooperation.
Delegates are expected to arrive as early as May 5, with security operations maintained until their departure on May 12.