Military on Red Alert for Sona

MANILA. Members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, National Capital Region Command stand at attention during an inspection Saturday in Quezon City. (AP)

MANILA — The military is declaring its highest state of alert in Metro Manila Sunday, ahead of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday.

President Arroyo will deliver her ninth and last Sona at the House of Representatives building at the Batasan complex in Quezon City on Monday, July 27.

In a phone interview, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs officer Romeo Brawner said the military is imposing Red Alert effective 5 p.m. Sunday to ensure that the military establishment would be prepared to respond to any eventuality.

“We are going on Red Alert tomorrow (Sunday) at 17:00 hour (5 p.m.)… at present, we are still on Blue Alert. This is in preparation for the Sona to ensure we are prepared. If we are on Red Alert, the troops are intact, their attendance is 100 percent inside camp,” said Brawner.

On Saturday, top military officials led the mustering of hundreds of troops in full battle gear inside its general headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo to ensure their preparedness. (more)