MANILA, July 27 (PNA) — Security and traffic preparations are all set when President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his sixth State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City on Monday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.
In an interview on Sunday, Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor, PNP-Public Information Office (PIO) chief, said the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) went on full alert on Sunday afternoon and prepared to deploy policemen with the activation of Super Task-Force “Kapayapaan 2015” to secure the Batasan complex.
“Accordingly, the Police Region Offices (PROs) 3, 4A, NCRPO and SAF (Special Action Force) are placed on full alert effective 5 a.m. of July 27, 2015. Other regional directors, PROs are given the discretion to upgrade their alert depending on the prevailing peace and order in their respective areas of responsibilities,” Mayor said.
“Regional units/offices will follow the alert status of their PROs. All unit commanders are reminded to secure vital installations,” he added.
Earlier, the PNP said it would deploy more or less 10,000 police personnel from the NCRPO, supported by the National Support Units (NSUs), NHQ-PNP, PNP-Directorial Staff and the different Police Regional Offices. The PROs will deploy Civil Disturbance Management (CDM) personnel, aside from the NCRPO police personnel.
The STF “Kapayapaan 2015” will be headed by NCRPO officer-in-charge Chief Supt. Allen Bantolo and directly supervise the conduct of all coordination with concerned law enforcement agencies, security preparations and operations in Metro Manila.
It is basically a composite team of the entire NCRPO police force and all the police districts in Metro Manila, including the augmentation forces coming from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Mayor said protest rallies are banned within the two-kilometer zones of the House of Representatives.
He said they are securing not only the Batasang Pambansa complex but also other traditional rally areas such as the Chino Roces Bridge near Malacanang, the U.S. Embassy compound in Manila, and vital government and private installations.
Like in the previous SONAs, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), together with the Quezon City Police District (QCPD), is in-charge of ensuring smooth traffic flow along Commonwealth Ave. and Batasan Road leading to the Batasang Pambansa complex. (PNA)