OVER 22,000 policemen and members of other allied law enforcement agencies will be mobilized to secure the 3rd State-of-the-Nation-Address by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. this coming July 22, National Capital Region Police Office director, Major General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said.

The official said on orders of Philippine National Police chief General Rommel Francisco Marbil, they are not leaving anything to chances and are ensuring that all threats and concerns during the President’s SONA will be fully addressed.

Maj. Gen. Nartatez said nearly 18,000 members of the Metro Manila police force will be deployed to secure the vicinity of Batasan Pambansa and other areas leading to it before and during the SONA.

The NCRPO men will be backed up by 1,879 policemen from nearby police regional offices including those in Central Luzon and Calabarzon region and 2,771 other personnel from the Armed Forces, the Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and the Metro Manila Development Authority.

“Bukod sa Security Task Force SONA 2024, ay may mga itatalaga din tayong sub-task groups na pamumunuan ng ating limang district directors sa Metro Manila. Hindi lamang seguridad ang ating ipapakalat kundi maging medical assistance kaakibat ang mga pampubliko at pribadong ahensya,” said Maj. Gen. Nartatez.

Troops from the Manila, Quezon City, Northern, Eastern and Southern Police Districts and the NCRPO Regional Mobile Force Battalion as well as different Metro Manila-based national operational support units will be among those deployed during the event.

The Reactionary Standby Support Force of the PNP national headquarters in Camp Crame will also be readied for deployment as the need arises.

“Sa paghahanda para sa nalalapit sa State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA), nagsisimula na tayong magkaroon ng simulations upang magkaroon tayo ng ideya kung magiging epektibo ang ating mga inilatag na preparasyon ,” the NCRPO chief said.

Apart from the Batasan Pambansa complex which houses the House of Representatives in Q.C., police will also fully secure other vital installations particularly the roads leading to Malacañang Palace especially the Chino Roces (formerly Mendiola) Bridge, EDSA Shrine, Liwasang Bonifacio, Welcome Rotonda and other places of major convergence as well as public utility terminals including airports, seaports and bus stations as well as shopping malls, public markets and churches during the period.

Maj. Gen. Nartatez said in particular that there will be tight security at the Chino Roces Bridge, EDSA Shrine and the United States Embassy in Manila.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon