Police in the province of Bohol said they are preparing security arrangements ahead of meetings linked to next year’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, which the Philippines will host in 2026.
The country will chair the regional bloc under the theme “Navigating Future Together,” and Bohol is set to again host several related gatherings, having previously served as a venue during the Philippines’ last ASEAN chairmanship in 2017.
ASEAN is a 10-nation grouping comprising Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, and was formed in 1967 to promote regional stability and economic cooperation.
Organisers said next year’s agenda will highlight peace, shared prosperity and people-centred development, with discussions expected to focus on artificial intelligence, maritime awareness and digital innovation.
Bohol police director Colonel Patricio Degay Jr. said existing police personnel would be deployed to secure visiting dignitaries and their families, who are expected to visit tourist destinations across the province.
“Additional police units from other regions can be requested if necessary,” Degay said, adding that authorities had received no intelligence reports indicating any threats to the meetings.
Security remains sensitive in Bohol following a 2017 incident in which Abu Sayyaf militants infiltrated the province ahead of ASEAN events.
The Islamic State-linked group, known for kidnappings and bombings in the southern Philippines, landed in Bohol with about 10 fighters and was later neutralised in a weeks-long security operation before any summit activities were disrupted.