Police forces have started securing strategic areas near the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City in preparation for the first State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. on Monday, July 25.
Police Maj. Gen. Valeriano De Leon, director for Operations of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said some policemen were already deployed on Sunday, July 24, while the rest, including anti-riot cops, will be deployed early Monday morning.
"In terms of security, your PNP is all set for another significant event in our history. Proper coordination has already been made with concerned government agencies in order to ensure a peaceful and orderly SONA of our President Bongbong Marcos," said De Leon.
From more than 21,000 policemen and force multipliers, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said the number was increased to more than 22,000. This, after the Quezon City government allowed protesters to march and hold activities in some portions of Commonwealth Avenue.
De Leon said most of the policemen will come from the NCRPO while the rest will come from Police Regional Offices 3 and 4A.
The Batangas Police Provincial Police Office, for instance, will send 52 personnel as part of the Civil Disturbance Management forces that will be deployed in Quezon City.
In terms of security, De Leon lauded the decision of the Quezon City government to suspend all classes and encouraged the business sector in the area to suspend their operations or consider a work-from-home arrangement on July 25.
As protesters were allowed to occupy a portion of Commonwealth Avenue for their march and activities, De Leon said security adjustments were immediately made, especially in terms of deployment.
"We already completed some recalibration of our security measures as a result of the decision to allow some groups to hold their activities in some portions of Commonwealth Avenue," said De Leon.
"We expect our friends from the progressive groups to honor what was agreed during the meeting, such as the observation of the health safety protocols and to police their own ranks," he added.
Traffic rerouting
On July 18, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) issued a traffic rerouting plan to motorists to assist them in planning their travel early.
The MMDA is among the agencies that will assist in the traffic flow and MMDA officer-in-charge Baltazar Melgar said they will be deploying along Commonwealth Avenue and other roads leading to and within the vicinity of the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City, where the SONA will be held.
"Personnel assigned are tasked to manage both vehicular and pedestrian traffic; emergency response; clearing operations; assist in crowd control; and support the operations of the Task Force SONA 2022, Philippine National Police, National Capital Region Police Office, Quezon City Police District, Presidential Security Group, and Quezon City government to ensure a peaceful and orderly SONA," said Melgar.
He said ambulances, tow trucks, fire trucks, mobile patrol units, motorcycle units, among others, will also be deployed at designated routes and staging areas.
“The MMDA shall implement a zipper lane or counterflow on the southbound portion of Commonwealth Avenue to give way to vehicles of government officials and guests going to the complex as needed,” said Melgar.
‘Pa-test kayo’
De Leon, meanwhile, urged rally organizers to find ways to have all those who would attend the SONA protest subjected to at least an antigen test.
“We don’t know where these people would come from so the safest way is to have them tested to prevent the spread of Covid-19,” said De Leon.
"On the part of the PNP, all those who would be deployed to secure the SONA on Monday will be subjected to an RT-PCR test." We already started it last Friday, " he added.
The PNP has started subjecting their personnel who would be deployed for SONA security to Covid-test to ensure that none of them is Covid-19 carrier.
Respect
De Leon, meanwhile, urged the protesters to honor what was agreed during the discussion for the granting of the permit to rally.
"There is no sense in any unnecessary confrontation. We fully respect the rights of some groups to assemble and air their grievances but we also expect them to respect our personnel on the ground who will be deployed to ensure peace and order for everybody," said De Leon.
“Let us respect one another and I’m certain that this will be a key to a peaceful and orderly SONA,” said De Leon.