By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan | Philippine News Agency
The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will be placed under full alert status starting Sunday as part of security measures for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA).
The full alert means the highest level of readiness in all police officers and units. Under full alert status, police personnel are not allowed to go on leave.
“We are on heightened alert such that on Sunday, we will be on full alert. As of now, threat level[-wise], ang Metro Manila pinakamababa, halos walang threat. Around [the] House of Representatives is no-fly zone,“ NCRPO chief PMGen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. told reporters at the sidelines of the send-off ceremony for cops to be deployed held at the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) headquarters in Camp Karingal.
Nartatez said an additional 1,000 cops coming from Central Luzon and Calabarzon will bring to 23,000 the total number of police officers that will be deployed to secure the SONA.
He said critics may say that the large police deployment is overkill, but the NCRPO is just fully utilizing its manpower, logistics, and even finances to secure the national event that will draw some 2,000 VIP guests, including diplomats.
On the other hand, Nartatez said they are also expecting some 8,000 to 10,000 protesters.
“We are ensuring that the delivery of the SONA of our President will be seamless, smooth, and very peaceful. So hindi natin masasabing overacting or overkill,” he said.
Nartatez said the gun ban in Metro Manila would take effect on Saturday until the end of the day on Monday.
For his part, PNP chief PGen. Rommel Francisco Marbil assured the public that measures are in place to prevent an incident similar to the assassination attempt on former US president Donald Trump.
“Always 100 percent (ready). Remember it’s the whole organization, law enforcement,” Marbil told reporters in an interview on Thursday during his command visit in Police Regional Office 4A in Laguna.
He said the PNP is in constant coordination with the Presidential Security Group (PSG), the military, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), among others, in securing the SONA.
He also urged rallyists to keep their protests peaceful and not impede the movement of the general public.
The PNP is focusing security measures in the vicinity of the Batasang Pambansa Complex as security inside the chamber is under the purview of the House of Representatives’ Office of the Sergeant at Arms and of the PSG.
500 soldiers to assist PNP
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), meanwhile, said it would deploy 500 officers and two armored vehicles to support the police.
In a statement, AFP public affairs office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said the troops and vehicles will be under the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region.
“Through collaborative efforts and unwavering dedication, the AFP stands ready to safeguard the nation’s stability and democratic proceedings,” Trinidad added. (with report from Priam Nepomuceno)
