By Sarwell Meniano/Philippine News Agency
TACLOBAN CITY — The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Eastern Visayas (Region 8) has deployed over 800 policemen to ensure public safety as militant groups are expected to stage rallies during President Rodrigo Duterte’s fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Brig. Gen. Dionardo Carlos, Region 8 director, said policemen from the regional office have been deployed since the weekend as the police raised the nationwide full alert status ahead of SONA.
“We have to make sure that protesters are safe as they raise issues during SONA. Just keep it peaceful and we will be there for them. We are on full alert until such time that the national headquarters will issue downgrading of the alert status,” Carlos added.
Police presence in places of convergence is necessary to control any mass movement in case various militant groups will hold protests in major cities and capital towns.
The regional office has required all personnel to be present on Monday and be ready for any “maximum deployment as reactionary standby support force.
“Police field offices and mobile force battalion are directed to intensify simultaneous checkpoint operations in all strategic areas especially to vehicles transporting a significant number of persons without a clear purpose,” Carlos said in a press briefing Monday.
Although there are no specific threats, police in the region were told to heighten security measures in police stations to foil possible attacks by the New People’s Army.
The police official asked the public to immediately report any unusual activities or suspicious persons that may cause chaos in the conduct of protests.
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