QC ready for SONA on Monday

The Quezon City government said it is ready to provide support for the fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Duterte on Monday.

The city government, in a statement yesterday, said it will deploy over 500 personnel along Commonwealth Avenue, Batasan Road and other nearby areas to assist in traffic management.

The city’s disaster risk reduction and management office will also set-up medical posts and first aid tents in front of Saint Peter Church and Quezon City Police District Station 6 at Batasan Road to assist in emergencies.

The environmental protection and waste management department, meanwhile, conducted cleaning operations within the vicinity of the House of Representatives.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has already suspended classes in all levels on Monday.

An alternate route map has also been released to aid motorists who will have to travel in areas near Batasang Pambansa, where the President will deliver his speech.

Light vehicles may use the alternate route passing through North Avenue; Mindanao Avenue; Old Sauyo Road; and Chestnut, Dahlia and Fairlane Streets.

Heavy vehicles, meanwhile, may take Commonwealth Avenue where a zipper lane will be opened.

Human rights officers

Meanwhile, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said it welcomes the decision of the Philippine National Police to deploy human rights officers to monitor response to the protest rallies expected on Monday.

“We expect them to lead in protecting the rights of all, especially the right of the people peaceably to assemble as a legitimate means to ask the government for redress of grievances,” said CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia.

“We hope that human rights does not become as a special function reserved to only a few police officers and limited during instances of great need, such as SONA demonstrations,” she added.

As duty bearers, De Guia said the call for all officers of the law is to put human rights as core guiding principles during arrests, searches, investigations and in formulating peace and order initiatives.

“CHR will continue to reach out to PNP on how the government can improve the protection and promotion of human rights in the country,” she said.

“For our part, CHR officers shall also be deployed on Monday to monitor the situation on the ground as part of its mandate as an independent national human rights institution,” added the human rights official.