NCRPO Gears Up for SONA, AFP to Support Police Force

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) is gearing up for the third State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Monday, July 23, at the Batasan Pambansa here.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP’s) Joint Task Force- National Capital Region (JTF-NCR) is also on standby to provide support to the PNP.

NCRPO head, Chief Superintendent Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar heads the Metro Manila police force’s SONA security preparations.

Eleazar said at least 6,000 policemen will be deployed within the vicinity of the Batasan Pambansa Complex as part of the security measure.

The NCRPO chief also said they are coordinating with other peace and order agencies to secure the event.

Just like in the past two years, the NCRPO will be getting help from the Armed Forces, the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Quezon City local government in securing Batasan Pambansa where the President will address the nation. The Presidential Security Group will be in charge of the security inside the main venue.

Representatives from the Commission of Human Rights have also been invited to join them in manning the operation center to prove that their security measures are “in accordance with the human rights standards and principles.”

“Maximum tolerance will be implemented by the police force just like what the Chief, PNP and the President have said. Walang baril yong mga nasa CDM (Civil Disturbance Management) units so shield lang, yong shield pwede na sa tabi- tabi na lang, so mag-uusap kami, we will be talking to the different leaders of the groups that will be joining with this activity para mas maayos ang ating SONA,” Eleazar said.

Traffic rerouting will be enforced on Monday, while plainclothes police personnel will monitor and identify spoilers of a peaceful democratic exercise. The local government units, especially the Quezon City government, will also participate in monitoring activities during the SONA. (PIA-NCR)