No specific threats to Aquino’s SONA so far, say police

Batasang Pambansa. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – The police and military have not monitored any specific threats in Metro Manila in connection with President Benigno Aquino III’s annual State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday at the House of Representatives in Quezon City.

Senior Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson, said at least 9,000 policemen would be stationed around the Batasang Pambansa complex and in other parts of the metropolis where thousands of protesters were expected to hold protest rallies.

Sindac said the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and other government agencies would also field their own personnel to help the police manage traffic and ensure peace and order throughout the day.

On the other hand, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) had placed its units in the National Capital Region under red alert and readied a 500-member contingency team on standby.

“There’s no particular threat (regarding the President’s SONA). But we have put in place a security plan… for this event,” Sindac told the Philippine Daily Inquirer over the phone.

“We will also have auxiliary units, which will help us direct traffic and maintain peace and order,” he added.

Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala, AFP public affairs office chief, said the military has been closely coordinating with the PNP in monitoring the security situation in the metropolis.

“We will not have specific deployment of our men. They are mostly on-call from major camps in Metro Manila. But they will just be there as a contingency (unit)… for security operations in support of the PNP,” Zagala said.

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