Protesters urged: No bags, no jackets

MANILA -- The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Monday urged militant groups and pro-government protesters to avoid wearing jackets and bringing bags during demonstrations on July 22, when President Rodrigo R. Duterte delivers his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA).

“We are asking them not to carry bags and wear jackets. But this is just a discouragement, we cannot prohibit them from doing it,” NCRPO Director Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar told reporters during Monday’s press briefing at Camp Crame.

Eleazar said his appeal was part of security measures aimed at peaceful and orderly conduct of protest actions.

This, amid security concerns after authorities recently confirmed that one of the two suicide bombers in a military camp that left six people dead was a Filipino.

“We are expecting at least 15,000 protesters based on the SONA last year,” Eleazar said.

Eleazar said that he would bring up the issue of urging protesters not to carry bags and wear jackets when he and leaders and organizers of protest actions meet again on Wednesday.

“There will be stakeholders meeting and dialogue to be followed on the ocular inspection site headed towards the House of Representatives as well the area were the rallyists are set to have their program during SONA,” Eleazar said.

The NCRPO chief said rallies will be allowed up to St. Peter Parish along Commonwealth Avenue “for as long as these are held peacefully”.

“As usual, our police will exercise maximum tolerance but at the same time we asked the militant groups to do their share and police their ranks to ensure a peaceful and orderly SONA day,” he said.