By Pearl Gumapos
Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Police Gen. Guillermo Eleazar assured the public that the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has started security preparations for President Rodrigo Duterte’s last State of the Nation Address (SONA).
“Palapit nang palapit ang SONA ng ating Pangulo, at batid ng inyong PNP ang matinding interes ng ating mga kababayan sa kanyang mensahe, kaya naman patuloy ang aming paghahanda para dito,” Eleazar said in a press release.
“Naging tahimik at maayos ang mga nakalipas na SONA ng ating Pangulo, at ito ang nagsisilbing template ng inyong kapulisan sa darating na Hulyo 26, kabilang ang maayos na pakikipag-usap sa lahat ng grupo,” he added.
Eleazar previously ensured zero casualties and zero incidents during the President’s first two SONAs in 2016 and 2017 as Task Group Quezon Commander, and two other SONAs as NCRPO director and head of Security Task Force SONA.
He was the commander of Joint Task Force COVID Shield during the President’s fifth SONA last year.
It was Eleazar’s idea to remove container vans and other barricades which had been present at all other SONAs, arguing that their presence only invited aggressiveness on the part of the protesters. He instead pushed for dialogues with various groups.
The police are also coordinating with other offices and stakeholders to determine the setup of Duterte’s last SONA, given that there is still a pandemic in the country, Eleazar said.
He urged groups planning to hold mass actions to reconsider and to just conduct their activities online to avoid contracting COVID-19.
“We encourage these groups planning to conduct mass actions to coordinate their activities with the PNP. Pero mas makabubuti sana kung gawin na lamang nilang virtual ang kanilang mga activities, para na din sa kaligtasan ng lahat mula sa COVID-19, lalo na’t nakapasok na sa ating bansa ang mas nakahahawang Delta variant,” he said.
The PNP chief assured that no security threat has been detected for President Duterte’s SONA on July 26.
However, he said the police force will be on full alert and enough police officers will be deployed to guard against untoward incidents on that day. – jlo
