700 soldiers to augment police security for SONA

MANILA, Philippines—Seven hundred soldiers have been deployed for the State of the Nation Address, the public information officer of National Capital Region Command said Monday.

Major Warden Zamora Jr. said the seven hundred soldiers will augment the 7,000 police deployed around Metro Manila, in preparation for this afternoon’s SONA.

Zamora said seven civil disturbance management companies from the Philippine Army, Philippine Air Force, Philippine Navy and the General Headquarters have been deployed late evening on Sunday and early dawn Monday.

Three companies have been deployed along the Department of Social Welfare and Development complex; three companies have been deployed along Ever Gotesco in Commonwealth, and one company from the General Headquarters is on standby, Zamora said.

The soldiers will “augment the Quezon City Police District forces just in case they will fall short in security,” Zamora said.

The NCRCOM maintained their normal alert status as they have seen no threats and the situation is “normal” at this time, Zamora said.