22,621 cops to secure SONA

MANILA, Philippines — Over 22,000 police personnel will be deployed to secure the third State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Marcos on July 22, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) announced yesterday.

“When it comes to our deployment plan, we will assign up to 22,621 police personnel at various border control points, including around Batasang Pambansa,” NCRPO chief and Task Force SONA commander Maj. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said.

According to Nartatez, the deployment figure includes 17,971 personnel from the NCRPO, 1,879 from various police units and 2,771 from other government agencies.

Nartatez said sub-task groups, led by the five district directors in Metro Manila, would also be deployed for SONA.

Simulations are being conducted to ensure the effectiveness of the preparations being made, he said.

At least 6,000 officers of the Quezon City Police District will help secure the SONA, QCPD director Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan said.

He said the security contingent would include plainclothes police officers to monitor people who might take advantage of the SONA to sow chaos.

Police will exercise maximum tolerance and urged rally organizers to police their own ranks during the SONA, Maranan said.