NCRPO gearing up for SONA

MANILA, Philippines — Early security preparations are underway for President Duterte’s last State of the Nation Address (SONA) set next month, the chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said yesterday.

“As early as now, we are preparing the security for the upcoming SONA. There are some groups that would make noise or protest. That would be avoided,” said Maj. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. in an interview over radio station dzBB.

The NCRPO chief called on would-be protesters to follow minimum health standards, stressing there is still an ongoing pandemic.

Earlier, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco said this year’s SONA might be just like last year’s – a hybrid session in which there are fewer physical attendees.

Danao said that part of the NCRPO’s task is to monitor threats of possible terrorist attacks, but clarified that there are none so far.

“Definitely, that comes with our crime prevention – the anti-terrorism campaign. But as of now, we don’t see or receive any eventuality that this could happen during the SONA,” he said.