The Philippines plans to ban security personnel from carrying mobile phones while on duty during the leaders’ summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and East Asian Summit (EAS) in November, local media reported on Sunday.

Quoting ASEAN Security Task Force Director Napoleon Taas, the GMA News Online reported that the use of mobile phones while on duty compromises the security plan laid out for the leaders of ASEAN and major dialogue partners including the United States, Japan, India and Russia.

“We believe that banning security personnel from using mobile phones while on duty would immensely help in ensuring the safety and security of all ASEAN delegates,” Taas said.

“The directive is very clear: the use of cellular phones while on duty is strictly prohibited and anyone while on duty seen or caught tinkering with their device will be held accountable.”

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.