SONA event ‘generally peaceful’, PNP says

PNP Chielf Director General Raul Bacalzo says SONA 2011 has been peaceful in an interview near St. Peter’s Church along Commonwealth Avenue hours before President Benigno Aquino III delivered his SONA. Video by INQUIRER.net’s Karen Boncocan

MANILA, Philippines – “Generally peaceful” was how the Philippine National Police described the situation during President Benigno Aquino’s second State of the Nation Address Monday.

Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr, PNP spokesman, said that except for the “perennial” traffic congestion, traffic re-routing and mass protests around the Batasan Complex area, where Aquino delivered his speech, the annual event in Congress went “peacefully and orderly” without any untoward incidents in Metro Manila and other parts of the country.

PNP Chief Raul Bacalzo congratulated all police commanders and personnel that composed the 7,000-strong PNP security contingent, Cruz said.

The PNP chief also thanked the leaders of cause-oriented groups and organizers of mass actions for keeping their activities within bounds of the law and according to their prior agreement with authorities, Cruz said.