Around 20,000 policemen will be deployed to ensure peace and order during the fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at the Batasang Pambansa complex in Quezon City on July 27, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said.
“Twenty thousand, that’s the initial… This includes personnel we are going to borrow from other regions. These 20,000 personnel include those who will be performing anti-criminality and other (duties),” NCRPO spokesperson Maj. Hazel Asilo told reporters.
Asilo said NCRPO is in the process of crafting security measures for the SONA, adding they are identifying the areas where groups might hold protests.
“We’re going to deploy CDM (Civil Disturbance Management) personnel to these areas in case there will be rallies,” she said.
Asilo said the policemen will not only be deployed in the vicinity of Batasang Pambansa complex.
“This is for entire Metro Manila. This will include policemen who will be deployed in the barangays, doing anti-criminal and other (operations),” she said.
Asilo said NCRPO has yet to monitor groups planning to secure permits to hold rallies during the President’s fifth SONA.
“We are still checking if there will be groups that will secure (rally) permits. As of now, we have not monitored any,” she said.
Asked if they have monitored any threat, Asilo said, “We have yet to monitor threats.”
The President delivers the SONA every year, usually every last Monday of July, to report on the state of the country, unveil the administration’s agenda, and ask Congress to pass priority measures. (PNA)