THE Philippine National Police (PNP) is yet to monitor any threat against the conduct of the fifth State of the Nation Address (Sona) of President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, PNP deputy chief for operations Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar said on Sunday, July 26.
“Wala tayong namo-monitor threat sa overall pero patuloy naman syempre ‘yung pagkakalap natin nyan, the only threat that we have is ‘yung Covid (2019 coronavirus disease) threat,” he said.
Eleazar said the Sona-related protest actions will be held inside the University of the Philippines (UP) campus in Diliman as the Quezon City local government did not issue permit to the militant groups for the conduct of mass gathering along Commonwealth Avenue, the usual venue for SONA rallies, due to the directive issued by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
In the said DILG directive, it reminded LGUs of the prohibition on mass gatherings to avoid the further spread of the virus.
In a press conference, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Major General Debold Sinas said the NCRPO will remain on full alert status which was prevailing since March during the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).
He said at least 6,000 law enforcers, from the PNP, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Quezon City LGU and other concerned government agencies, will be deployed in Quezon City alone to ensure the safety and security during Duterte’s fifth SONA especially during the conduct of protest actions.
Sinas said at least 30 bomb-sniffing dogs will also be deployed in Metro Manila including in UP campus, Senate of the Philippines in Pasay and House of Representatives.
He said there will be 1,900 reserved forces which is ready for deployment if necessary.
Sinas said among the differences of the upcoming SONA as compared in the past was that there will be no traffic rerouting scheme along Commonwealth Avenue which is usually being closed to give way to the protest actions and that there will be no augmentation forces from the neighboring regions to avoid possible transmission of the virus.
He admitted that they can be outnumbered by the militant groups who will join the protest actions that is why they are continuously conducting dialogue with the leaders to ensure the peacefulness and orderly of the event.
“Natatakot din kami para sa mga tao namin pati sa mga magrarally kasi we could not guarantee them that the police is 100 percent Covid free inspite of the so many test na ginawa namin at marami na rin kami nagpositive,” he said.
“Sigurado rin kami na ‘yung mga rallyista din hindi rin 100 percent Covid free so hindi namin alam sino carrier sa kanila at carrier samin pag mapilitan na magkahulihan i-expect namin na ‘yung mga pulis namin na nandoon i-quarantine talaga for their safety at safety ng kasama nila at pamilya nila. Kaya pakiusap namin sumunod lang po tayo kasi mahirap talaga,” he added.
Sinas said their personnel will be on full personal protective equipment including face masks and shields and gloves to protect them from the possible infection.
However, Sinas said they have coordinated with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology which lend them 14 mobile detentions in case they make arrest of the unruly protesters.
Sinas clarified that they will not immediately make an arrest but instead policemen were instructed to first talk to them politely.
“May blocking pa rin kami kasi baka mamaya biglang magtakbuhan pero ‘yung buong stretch na yan may mga pilus kaming ilalagay jan nakamonitor para kung may magviolate mabilis agad pagsabihan ang planon namain hindi naman kaagad arestuhin muna,” he said.
“Kausapin lang muna ang leaders na bawal yan baka pwede kayo umalis kung gusto nyo magpicture taking at aalis din naman hindi sila huhulihin, pag matigas na talaga ang ulo at nag-caught na ng attention ng commotion ang instruction dun hulihin na talaga,” he added.
Sinas said the protest actions are expected to start at 9 a.m. and finish at 12 noon. (SunStar Philippines)