1,500 cops to secure ASEAN SEOM retreat in Boracay

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The Police Regional Office 6 will deploy about 1,500 personnel to secure delegates attending the ASEAN Senior Economic Officials Meeting (SEOM) Retreat 2026 in Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan.

Brig. Gen. Josefino Ligan, Western Visayas police chief, said the figure is in addition to officers from national support units of the Philippine National Police, including the Maritime Group, who will also be assigned to the area.

Personnel from other law enforcement agencies and government offices will support the security effort as well.

By Sunday, Dec. 7, the 1,500 officers will be deployed across Boracay Island, mainland Malay, and designated offsite areas.

Ligan said approximately 200 delegates are expected to participate in the four-day retreat, which runs from Dec. 10 to 13, 2025.

A multi-agency coordinating center will also be set up to streamline operations.

Despite the high-level presence of ASEAN officials, Ligan clarified that there will be no changes to entry or exit points and no restricted areas for tourists or residents.

“Boracay Island is geographically isolated, so it is easy to secure,” he said.

Coastal and shoreline patrols will be handled by the Philippine Coast Guard and the PNP Maritime Group.

Last week, PRO-6 joined the Department of the Interior and Local Government Region 6 in an inter-agency coordinating conference for the SEOM Retreat.

The meeting focused on key preparations for the secure and orderly conduct of the event, including threat and risk assessments, security and operational briefings, incident management plans, deployment strategies, Department of Trade and Industry updates, and insights from the ASEAN National Organizing Council.