Metro Manila police chief balks at ‘overkill’ tag on Sona preparations
TIGHT SECURITY / JULY 25, 2016 Members of the PNP anti-riot squad with their shield and trancheons take up position outside the House of Representatives along IBP Road in Quezon City prior to the State of the Nation Address. (INQUIRER file photo / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE)
MANILA, Philippines — The deployment of police and government security forces for President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) is not an “overkill,” according to Metro Manila police chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr.
Nartatez made the reaction to the remark of Bayan Secretary Mong Palatino, who said over Brigada News FM station that the preparations and deployment of the Philippine National Police constitute an “overkill.”
“They are the only ones saying that,” Nartatez said when asked to react on Palatino’s observation.
The police official made the statement in an ambush interview in Quezon City Police District headquarters, where a send-off ceremony was held for police and security personnel assigned for Sona preparations.
“For us, we are fully utilizing our resources,” Nartatez maintained.
“We are ensuring that the delivery of the Sona of our President should be seamless, smooth and very peaceful,” the chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) pointed out.
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The official also noted that more or less 2,000 VIPs like government officials and diplomats will be at the House of representatives for the Sona.
Meanwhile, about 8,000 people are expected to join the demonstrations outside the Batasang Pambansa.
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Nartatez said the total number of police and government security elements deployed to secure Sona is now at 23,000 after being augmented by another thousand personnel.
Of this number, 8,000 law enforcers will be assigned to Commonwealth Avenue and IBP Road, where pro-government and progressive groups are expected to hold their demonstrations.
The NCRPO is now on heightened alert and will be on full alert on Sunday or during the eve of Sona.
PNP has yet to monitor any threats to the Sona of Marcos.
