BOMB DRILL | Members of the Manila Police District’s Explosive Ordnance Division hold a simulation exercise in responding to a bomb threat in the vicinity of the National Museum in Manila on Monday, 10 days before President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. takes his oath of office at the historic building. (Photo by NIÑO JESUS ORBETA / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police intends to follow the security template it used on Vice President-elect Sara Duterte’s inauguration in the June 30 oath-taking of President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the National Museum in Manila.
Citing the success of the security layout for Duterte’s oath-taking ceremony in Davao City, Maj. Gen. Valeriano de Leon, operations chief of the PNP, said on Monday that the same plan could be employed to ensure that Marcos’ inauguration is peaceful and orderly.
In a statement, De Leon lauded the Davao region police, headed by Brig. Gen. Benjamin Silo, for ensuring that no disruption took place on Sunday’s inauguration at the San Pedro Square in Davao City.
“Once again, we were able to demonstrate that early preparation and maintaining open lines of communication are vital to the success of any undertaking,” he noted.
De Leon pointed out that they will be using “almost the same security template” for Marcos’ oathtaking at the National Museum on June 30.
According to the PNP operations chief, “All of the strategies that were prepared and implemented during the inauguration of VP Duterte are good lessons and experiences that will be important in [ensuring] the success of President-elect Marcos’ inauguration.”
De Leon acknowledged that there were security adjustments, based on the ground situation. “But overall, the successful security implementation during Vice President-elect Inday Sara’s inauguration served as a good security template that will be adopted on June 30,” he said.
To decongest the venue of Marcos’ inauguration, De Leon said that consultations were underway with the management and owners of huge LED screens along Edsa and in other parts of the country for simulcast live coverage of the oathtaking.
He also mentioned the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, Mall of Asia in Pasay City, Philippine Sports Center in Pasig City, and North Luzon Express Terminal in Bulacan as among possible public viewing venues.
De Leon assured the public that everything is set for the June 30 inauguration.
“We have already devised strategies on how to manage the personnel and other potential circumstances.”
The PNP official further assured the public that protesters would be allowed to stage their planned gatherings in freedom parks.
“There will be designated spaces for protesters. And I would like to advise them to remain in those areas to prevent any confrontations,” he said.
“We will exercise maximum tolerance, but we want to remind the protesters not to push us to our boundaries because we are always prepared to maintain peace and order,” he said.
For her part, Col. Jean Fajardo, spokesperson for the PNP, told reporters on Monday that the declaration of June 30 as a holiday, in view of Marcos’ inauguration, is among the recommendations under review.
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