NCRPO on alert for SONA

The 29,000-strong National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will be placed on full alert starting today as part of security preparations for the fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Duterte on Monday.

NCRPO director Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar yesterday presided over the last inter-agency meeting at Camp Karingal in Quezon City to finalize security measures for the SONA.

Eleazar said at least 14,000 policemen would be deployed for the SONA. Of the number, 9,162 police officers would secure the Batasang Pambansa complex in Quezon City.

He said anti-riot policemen would be fielded starting at around 5 a.m. on Monday along Commonwealth Avenue up to the St. Peter Church where militant groups would hold protest actions.

Eleazar said they prepared a contingency measure in case President Duterte decides to talk to the protesters like what he did during his SONA in 2017.

He said they would jam cell phone signals during the SONA as part of security protocol.

Eleazar appealed to the rally organizers to police their ranks to ensure a peaceful and orderly SONA.

He said there would be no random bag checks among protesters.

“There will only be bag inspections once there are confirmed security threats,” the NCRPO chief said.

Eleazar ordered policemen to exercise maximum tolerance in dealing with the protesters.

He said security would also be tightened along the Mendiola Bridge, United States embassy in Manila and the EDSA Shrine in Mandaluyong City where separate rallies are expected to be held during the SONA.

Over 1,500 traffic enforcers and street sweepers of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority will be deployed for the SONA, MMDA general manager Jojo Garcia said.