The Philippines is deploying nearly 20,000 police officers to secure the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Metro Manila, as final security preparations enter their last phase. Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said on Monday, 9 November, that 19,869 officers would be stationed at summit venues, hotels, accommodation facilities and motorcade routes.

The deployment covers the arrival of foreign leaders and delegates for the gathering, whose major activities take place at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City. The PNP will be placed on full alert during the summit so personnel can be sent at once if a security incident or emergency arises.

Coordination across agencies

Speaking at a press briefing in Camp Crame, Nartatez said the PNP would coordinate closely with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Presidential Security Command, other government agencies and local government units. The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) is leading the Metro Manila security operation, with its acting director, Brigadier General Christopher Abrahano, overseeing venue, billet and route security.

The NCRPO has also been ordered to complete all remaining operational preparations and validate deployment plans before the summit opens. Police units have been told to enforce security perimeters and access controls around venues without exception, and checkpoints have been set up around the summit area.

No verified threat, officials say

Authorities said they had not detected any verified security threat linked to the summit. Abrahano confirmed that no verified threat had been monitored, a position also stated by the NCRPO spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Hazel Asilo.

Malacañang has declared 16 to 18 November as special non-working days in Metro Manila to ease security arrangements and reduce disruption to the public. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority is deploying 2,955 personnel of its own to support traffic and route management during the summit.

Leaders expected in Manila

The summit brings together the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and its dialogue partners. The United States, Canada and Brazil are among the partner countries whose heads of state or government have been confirmed to attend, alongside the leaders of the ASEAN member states. Myanmar is expected to be represented by a career diplomat.

The 49th ASEAN Summit is the Philippines' turn as chair in 2026. Preparations have been under way for months, with security rehearsals, road-closure plans and coordination meetings held across Metro Manila in the run-up to the leaders' arrival.

Police have urged the public to expect road closures around Pasay City, particularly near the Philippine International Convention Center and the Cultural Center of the Philippines, and to plan travel around the summit days. Further security updates are expected from the PNP as the summit approaches.