MABALACAT, July 19 -- With Central Luzon set to take center stage in an international diplomacy gathering next year, the Police Regional Office (PRO) 3 (Central Luzon) has begun laying the groundwork to ensure the safety and success of the 2026 ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Senior Officials Meeting on Social Welfare Development.

On Saturday, PRO-3 Director, Brig. Gen. Ponce Rogelio Penones Jr., led an initial security inspection at the Royce Hotel, the gathering's official venue within the Clark Freeport Zone, marking the start of comprehensive security planning, more than a year ahead of the high-level gathering.

Penones personally evaluated the hotel's infrastructure, identified key access points, and coordinated with...