US gives robots and other anti-terrorism equipment to the Philippine National Police (Photo from PNP’s Official Facebook Page).

A week ahead of the upcoming Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) ECONOMIC LEADER’S MEETING (AELM), the United States Department of State Anti-Terrorism Assistance (DS/ATA) Program in the Philippines has donated 32 Explosives and Ordinance Disposal (EOD) equipment to the Philippine National Police.

This equipment includes three MK3 explosives incident counter-measures (EIC) robots, nine post blat investigation kits and 20 EIC kits. This is apart from the six Ford Ranger pick-up trucks that the group has provided recently to the police organization.

The donations were turned over on November 9 to PNP-EOD Teams. Gracing the ceremony were PNP Chief Director General Ricardo C. Marquez and Mr. Thomas McDonough, the regional security officer of the US Embassy.

The equipment, which are capable of detecting chemical and nuclear explosive devices, are expected to reinforce the security measures of the APEC delegates that will come to the country next week.

Some of the event’s attendees include U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

During the ceremony, McDonough said that the donation “comes at a very timely moment.”

“We all know that we are getting ready for a very large undertaking—this job of APEC. The PNP will be shouldering most of the burden … the PNP will have the day-in and day-out work of the APEC, so we are very glad that the equipment are going to the APEC efforts,” he added.

The DS/ATA has been giving equipment and training to the country’s police force since 1986. The group aims to develop the PNP’s capacity to “prevent, interdict, counter and investigate terrorist activity,” specifically in Mindanao and in Metro Manila.

Back in 2007, the DS/ATA has also helped the PNP establish an EOD and K-9 facility for the National Capital Region Police Office.

Source: PNP-PIO