THE Philippine National Police spokesperson yesterday said the force has not received any “credible and serious threat” to the 2nd State-of-the-Nation-Address by President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr. on July 24.

“As of yesterday, we have not received any information on credible and serious threat but just the same, we are continuing our simulation exercises brought about by identified possible scenarios,” Colonel Jean Fajardo told newsmen at Camp Crame.

The PNP spokesperson said the National Capital Region Police Office headed by Brigadier General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. is set to have a skeletal deployment of its SONA personnel by the end of the week.

The PNP headed by General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr. in general and the NCRPO in particular are not taking anything to chances and are implementing the same security template used in successfully securing a number of major events in the past including the previous presidential addresses and Labor Day rallies.

Col. Fajardo said that as of yesterday, the Quezon City Police District under Brig. Gen. Nicolas D. Torre III is yet to receive ‘permit-to-rally’ applications from identified protest groups amid the pronouncement of Gen. Acorda that they will be strictly enforcing a ‘no permit, no rally’ policy’ in Batasang Pambansa complex and its nearby vicinities during the president’s speech.

She also said that the public must expect the conduct of police simulation and communication exercises as well as ‘walk-throughs’ and clearing operations in identified areas.

Col. Fajardo said that they also have contingency plans in case of protest rallies as she maintained that the protesters will only be allowed to stay at the Q.C. Memorial Circle which has been designated as a ‘freedom park.’

She stressed that the protesters have the right to air their grievance against the government but have to follow the law too and see to it that they won’t block the flow of traffic that will inconvenience the rest of the general public.

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Alfred P. Dalizon