PNP to field 9,000 cops, force multipliers for Sona 2019

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) will field 9,000 officers and force multipliers to secure President Rodrigo Duterte’s fourth State of the Nation Address (Sona) on July 22.

PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde said Monday that the police have started preparations for the President’s Sona since two weeks ago.

“Nine thousand ang magagamit sa Sona (We will have 9,000 personnel for Sona). This is more than what we have prepared last year. Last year was only like 7,000,” he said in a press briefing at Camp Crame.

This will be composed of 6,000 police officers from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) while the rest will come from augmentation from other PNP units and force multipliers, said NCRPO director Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar in a text message to INQUIRER.net.

This was an update to earlier reports that said the NCRPO will field 5,000 personnel to secure the upcoming Sona.

Albayalde said the PNP had even held a competition dubbed the National Civil Disturbance Management Competition in Taguig City to train its personnel on civil disturbance management. (Editor: Julie Espinosa)