MANILA, Philippines—Amid a string of recent bombing incidents in Metro Manila, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has laid out its security plan for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s 9th State of the Nation Address (Sona) on July 27.

PNP Director General Jesus Verzosa has ordered the creation of Task Force Kapayapaan more than three weeks before Ms Arroyo delivers her address to open the Congress. Security will be tightened inside the Batasang Pambansa complex and its perimeter in anticipation of anti-administration rallies.

PNP spokesperson Senior Supt. Leonardo Espina said the task force had started working on a security and safety plan for the event, including the deployment of more policemen for crowd control, traffic management and route security.

“The objective of the task force is to provide security for those attending, as well as those who will not attend the rallies. We have to maintain a normal business climate and keep the situation orderly,” Espina said in a briefing Saturday.

The task force, headed by Metro Manila police district commander Chief Supt. Roberto Rosales, has started planning security arrangements with the House of Representatives sergeant at arms and the Presidential Security Group.

The PNP, meanwhile, called on rally organizers to coordinate with the police to avert trouble during the Sona. Militant groups traditionally stage protest actions on roads leading to the Batasang Pambansa when the President delivers the annual address.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), the militant umbrella group that annually musters the largest crowd at the Sona rally, said it hoped that the police would not overreact when ralliers start to gather on Commonwealth Avenue.

“We hope the so-called TF Kapayaan would not be like previous overkill attempts to stifle protest. We expect huge demonstrations. We also expect protesters staging lakbayan (protest caravans) from the provinces,” said Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr.