MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP) has been placed on heightened alert for President Duterte’s first State of the Nation Address (SONA) tomorrow.
Although the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) does not expect any violent protests during the SONA, authorities will not let up on security efforts, officials said yesterday.
The NCRPO said 6,400 police officers would be deployed to secure the vicinity of the Batasang Pambansa complex in Quezon City and an additional 4,600 personnel would be on standby.
NCRPO spokesperson Chief Insp. Kimberly Molitas said NCRPO operatives were placed on full alert starting Friday afternoon.
“We are expecting a peaceful SONA. But we are also prepared for any untoward incident,” Molitas said.
Unlike in previous SONAs where militant and caused-oriented groups clashed with anti-riot policemen, Duterte’s first SONA is expected to be the most peaceful in the history of the country.
Earlier, workers and militant groups said they would hold rallies near the Batasang Pambansa to express their support to the President.
Police have not monitored any security threat to the SONA
Meanwhile, Senior Supt. Guillermo Eleazar, director of the Quezon City Police District, said the PNP has granted the request of militant groups not to install concrete barriers and barbed wire along Commonwealth Avenue to stop protesters from getting closer to the Batasang Pambansa complex.
Eleazar said they want to avoid a “war-like” atmosphere like in previous SONAs.
He said they agreed to allow the protesters some 600 meters away from the Batasang Pambansa building.
Militants and left-leaning groups would be allowed to hold their activities near St. Peter’s Church, Eleazar said.
He said drones are prohibited during the SONA.
Members of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) from Central and Northern Luzon, Southern Tagalog, Bicol and Mindanao will join the SONA rally tomorrow.
Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes said the rally would be in support of the “people’s agenda of the Duterte administration and for the upcoming peace talks.”
He said they would bring six murals during the rally, representing programs on national industrialization, land reform, progressive social policies, independent foreign policies and good governance, peace and human rights.
Reyes also said they have no plans to hold protests at the residence of former president Benigno Aquino III on Times street in Quezon City. – With Robertzon Ramirez