NEARLY 12,000 COPS TO SECURE MARCOS’ 4TH SONA — PNP

AROUND 12,000 police officers will be deployed to provide security during the fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on July 28, the Philippine National Police on Tuesday said.

In a press briefing held at Camp Crame, PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said a total of 11,949 will be deployed within and around the vicinity of the House of Representatives (HoR) at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.

Fajardo said the PNP will hold a coordinating conference together with the HoR’s Office of Sergeant-at-Arms to iron out some of the security protocols.

She said the personnel deployment also includes police officers from neighboring regions such as Central Luzon and Calabarzon to help secure the borders of Metro Manila during the SONA.

Fajardo said PNP chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III  directed PNP personnel to conduct an “honest-to-goodness” threat assessment for the event.

“If there is a need to adjust po ‘yung mga nakasanayan na nating security template at magbibigay po sila ng updated threat estimates as to including po ‘yung possible number ng magko-conduct po ng activities particularly ‘yung mga rallies both for pro- and anti- (administration),” she said.

Torre led a command conference at Camp Crame at 4 a.m. Tuesday to finalize security preparations for the President’s fourth SONA.

During the command conference, he also underscored the importance of unity, vigilance, and proactive leadership in ensuring a peaceful and orderly conduct of the President’s annual address.

NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin and five district directors attended the conference, as well as the heads of the national headquarters’ directorates for operations, investigation, intelligence and police community relations.

The five districts of the NCRPO are the Manila Police District, Quezon City Police District, Northern Police District, Eastern Police District and Southern Police District.

According to Torre, the PNP stands ready to uphold its mandate to protect the public and secure national events of great significance, such as the SONA.

House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said more than 200 guests have confirmed their attendance to the event.