A new tact this time.
Last year, the Metro Manila police failed in its “charm offensive” against protesters who showed up when President Benigno Aquino delivered his annual State of the Nation Address (Sona). This year, it’s looking like they’ll just keep the “camaraderie” within their ranks.
Quezon City police director Chief Supt. Richard Albano on Friday told reporters that he is eyeing more “solid” police forces to keep the peace during President Aquino’s Sona on July 28.
Sona security contingents should be composed based on their various districts, stations or units, he said.
“For example, if a certain area is for the Manila Police District (MPD) [to secure], it should just be the MPD. If the city police are assigned to the front lines, it should only be the city police,” Albano said
“It’s for camaraderie, and for civil disturbance management. If [the contingents] are mixed up, the civil disturbance management [operations] will have different styles. If there’s a more solid deployment, that would be more effective,” the city police director said.
Albano, who is overseeing his second Sona as Quezon City police director, said the proposal came up after noting the mistakes of the past year.
“Last year, the entire National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) was deployed, with some from other regional police offices. We don’t recommend too many [personnel] this year. We can deploy only half of last year’s number, as long as it’s solid,” he added.
Philippine National Police deputy chief of operations Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina said the police deployment for this year’s Sona was still up for review, but assured the public it would be at a “maximum.”
There has been no reported security threat so far, he said.
Last year, the Metro Manila police put up a barricade of police officers bearing flowers and balloons to meet ralliers marching along Commonwealth Avenue to the House of Representatives.
The groups snubbed the flowers and broke through the police line. A clash eventually took place between the protesters and police posted further down the main thoroughfare.
Asked if the Metro Manila police would still employ the same tactic this year, Espina said the police would try again, but only if it is needed.
“Our goal is to secure everybody, the public and the ralliers,” the police official said.