The deployment of over 12,000 policemen to secure President Marcos’s fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) is not an overkill but a security preparation for any worst-case scenario.

PNP chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III said police are among the agencies that prepare for the security of the major event of the President and they do not want any incident to spoil it.

“We always respect the opinion of other people. We are just making sure as far as security preparation is concerned. We always hope for the best but we are prepared for the worst,” said Torre.

He is reacting to the statement of some protesters who said the deployment of 12,000 cops is an overkill.

PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said the policemen will be tapped to secure the areas around, and all the roads leading to and from the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.

“More or less that would be the deployment unless of course we will deem it necessary to add the deployment of our personnel over the prevailing security situation,” said Fajardo.

“The full deployment will be in the early morning of July 28, the PNP will be in full force by that time,” she added.

Part of the deployment of personnel, according to Fajardo, are those who were tasked to secure parts of Metro Manila and the rest of the country against criminal elements and threat groups.

“Aside from SONA, there will be skeletal deployment for anti-criminality efforts including police checkpoints,” said Fajardo.

Aside from the 12,000 personnel, Fajardo said they expect other government agencies to deploy their respective personnel for the SONA.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the military earlier said they will assist in the SONA security and other matters, including traffic management.

Torre, for his part, said they will secure all the groups that will express their sentiments during the SONA.

“We will always lend open ears to them,” said Torre.

At least three groups were given the permit to hold activity during the SONA.

Fajardo said the group Bayan was given a permit to hold rally near the St. Peter’s Church while another group, the Tindig Pilipinas requested to hold activity along White Plains.

The pro-administration groups, on the other hand, were given a go-signal to converge near the Sandiganbayan on Commonwealth Avenue.

“We have been coordinating with them, particularly on policing their own ranks to avoid unnecessary friction,” said Fajardo.