THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has deployed policemen from its Human Rights Affairs Office (HRAO), particularly in the area where the anti-administration protesters will be conducting their picket rally during President Rodrigo Duterte's State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday, July 23.
PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde said at least 40 policemen from the HRAO who are wearing green vests are deployed along Commonwealth Avenue.
Twenty policemen are from Camp Crame, while the rest are coming from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).
"Kung mayroon din naman reklamo ang ating mga kababayan, pwede rin naman silang lumapit doon sa ating mga human rights officers," said Albayalde.
(If there are complaints, our countrymen can go and approach our human rights officers.)
NCRPO Director Guillermo Eleazar said 40 human rights officers from the Commission on Human Rights will also be in the area.
Albayalde said this was part of the security preparation to ensure the peace and order of the said event.
The PNP has deployed over 7,000 policemen outside the Batasang Pambansa where Duterte will deliver his third Sona.
Inspection of ranks
Hours before the protesters arrived in their designated area, Albayalde together with Eleazar and Father Superintendent Ronnie Datu, from the PNP Chaplain, has inspected the policemen deployed along Commonwealth Avenue.
Datu prayed and blessed the policemen and reminded them to maintain Godliness as they perform their duties and responsibilities.
"Alam naman natin in anything we do we should put God on the center, palagi yan. God centered tayo kasi and we want also 'yung ating mga kapulisan talagang matakot sa Diyos at maiwasan kung meron man sa kanila 'yung nag iisip na magmalabis o mag violate ng karapatan ng may karapatan and also hindi lang sa parte namin yan, pati sa parte ng mga militanteng grupo," said Albayalde.
He also reminded them to throw their trashes in the proper garbage area.
The police have not positioned any barbed wires or container vans in case the protesters forced to get near the Batasang Pambansa.
However, there will be a thick line of policemen in case protesters becomes unruly.
Albayalde said the leaders of the leftist groups promised to police their ranks and to stay in the area designated for them.
"Palagi tayong nananawagan na tuwing may mga protestang ganito na sana gawin nila yung kanilang pagproprotesta ng tahimik or walang mainit ang ulo din sa kanila at huwag manakit ng tao at manira ng property ng may property para maiwasan natin ang gulo at sakitan," he said.
(We continue to call on them that every time there is a protest, it will be peaceful or we have cooler heads or no one will hurt another and destroy a property to avoid trouble.)
Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes said they are not interested in getting near the Batasang Pambansa especially in seeing or facing Duterte.
"Hindi na natin inasam pa na lumapit sa Batasan kung saan maliit ang espasyo kami na ang nag-adjust at nagsabi na dito nalang kami sa Commonwealth Avenue," he said.
(We don’t expect to go near Batasan because the space is limited. We already made the adjustment and decided that we stay here at Commonwealth Avenue.)
"Mukhang wala naman paghaharap na magaganap sa pangatlong Sona kasi sinabi na ng Malacañang na hindi lalabas ang pangulo at kami naman dito sa labas hindi naman kami interesado at atat na atat na makita siya. Mainam na rin po na hindi na magkita dahil magkaiba talaga ang tindig natin sa mga usapin at issue...makikita natin dito na gumuhit na ng linya ang mga mamamayan," he added.
(I don’t think there is going to be a meeting on the third Sona since Malacañang already said the president is not going out. To us who are here outside, we are also not eager in seeing him. It is also good that we will not meet because our stand on issues are far different... we can see that the people have already placed a demarcation line.)
Reyes said among the issues they will raise during their activity are Charter Change, human rights, Train law, sovereignty in relation to the West Philippine seas, and the peace process. (SunStar Philippines)