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Friday, March 29, 2024

DILG: ASEAN-related events in Bohol to go on amid clash with ASG

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The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Saturday assured participants to the April 19 to 20 activities relating to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Bohol  ‘go on as planned.’

This comes amid the recent encounter between the Abu Sayyaf (ASG) and the combined forces of the police and the military recently.

In a statement, DILG Officer-in-Charge Catalino Cuy said, Bohol “might as well be considered a well-fortified and the most secure place in the country right now” following the attack by the ASG that killed three soldiers, a cop and at least six other armed men.

The fighting started at 5 am last Tuesday.

Among those killed was Abu Sayyaf leader Moammar Askali, an emerging hard-line leader who had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group. 

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Cuy, a retired police general, added that the “military and the police are on top of the situation."

"We would like to assure the delegates, tourists and residents alike that we are exerting our best efforts for Bohol," he promised. 

Officials said that about 4,000 personnel from the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippies, emergency response units and various agencies will be deployed during the meetings for the ASEAN Summit, which are expected to draw around 200 delegates.

Bohol will be hosting several meetings for ministers, senior officials and technical working groups and these events are expected to be held throughout the year.

On April 26 to 29, Metro Manila will play host to the 30th ASEAN Summit, with the major event on the last day to be held at the Philippine International Convention Center.

The Philippines currently chairs the ASEAN Summit 2017 and it will also host the 31st ASEAN Summit on November 10 to 14 in Clark, Pampanga.

The country’s chairmanship coincides with 50th Anniversary of the 10-nation organization.

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