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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Military grade drones with facial recognition to be used on SONA day

Military grade drones with facial recognition to be used on SONA day

Published Jun 23, 2023 03:58 am
House of Representatives (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN



The House of Representatives is slowly but surely laying down preparations for President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 24. On Thursday, June 22,  House Sergeant at Arms Napoleon Taas met with National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Edgar Alan Okubo at Batasan Complex in Quezon City for the third security coordinating conference. Discussed during the preparatory meeting, Okubo unveiled to the House official the mobile command center and the military grade drones that the Philippine National Police (PNP) will use on SONA day. “These drones have the capability to counter anti-drones also…it could disable drones flying within the vicinity of this complex para hindi puwedeng gamitin ng ating ibang kaibigan na gustong mag-monitor dito sa loob (so that they can't be used by those that want to monitor what's happening inside),” Okubo said. President Marcos will deliver his SONA during a joint session of the 311 House members and 24 senators in the plenary hall of Batasan Complex.. Hundreds of guests are also expected to attend. The drones--which also have facial recognition capabilities--will be used to gather real-time information in and out of Batasan Complex, Okubo said. “This is just for monitoring, hindi naman para sa mga raliyista (this isn't meant for the rallyists), but to immediately consolidate real-time information and reports of our commanders on the ground. Para hindi delayed (So that we won't get delayed information)," he noted. "It will be reported through their radio ang mobile apps, at the same time we have real-time videos of what they are seeing," explained the NCRPO director. Anti-administration rallies and demonstrations are usual sights within the vicinity of Batasan on SONA day. Taas said he was satisfied with the NCRPO's equipment. Also tackled during the meeting was the workflow of the online guest processing, parking plan, flow of traffic, and the deployment of the Presidential Security Group (PSG). The fourth and final security coordinating conference will be held on June 29.

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State of the Nation Address Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. Drones
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