THE FIVB Women’s Club World Championship will enforce security measures similar to those applied during high-profile events like the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum and the Papal visit.
Senior Supt. Romas Colet Apolinario, Southern Police District deputy district director for operations, was designated by Philippine National Police Director General Ronald dela Rosa to be on top of the security of WCWC delegates.
The World Clubs, the largest volleyball event to be held in the country, is expecting about 200 foreign players, coaches, officials and VIPs for the Oct. 18 to 23 meet slated at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
FIVB president Ary Graca will also grace the tournament, according to Philippine Superliga (PSL) president Ramon “Tats” Suzara who is also the director general of the FIVB World Clubs organizing committee.
“We will provide police personnel in all areas where the WCWC delegates will be playing, staying and even roaming around, including the malls which the delegates are likely to visit,” said Apolinario.
“Our order from Gen. Dela Rosa is to treat this event the way we treated the Apec [forum last year] and the Papal visit [in January 2015],” he added.
Apolinario didn’t say how many police personnel will be deployed but assured that the security of all visitors will be their top concern.
The Manila Police District led by Senior Supt. Joel Napoleon Coronel will also help beef up security.
The meet, organized by Larong Volleyball ng Pilipinas, Inc. (LVPI) and PSL, will gather the best eight club teams from around the world.
The Philippines, in deep training since last month, will parade seven homegrown players and seven reinforcements.
The other competing squads are 2016 European champion Pomì Casalmaggiore of Italy, 2015 Asian champion Bangkok Glass of Thailand, 2016 South American champion Rexona-Sesc Rio of Brazil, Voléro Zürich of Switzerland and Hisamitsu Springs of Japan and Turkey’s Eczacibasi VitrA Istanbul and Vakifbank Istanbul.