Photo by Nestor Corrales/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) deployed on Monday 10,000 policemen to secure the State of the Nation Address (Sona) of President Benigno Aquino III.
The PNP activated its “Super Task Force Kapayapaan” composed of four groups.
Police barricades were set up in front of the Ever Gotesco Mall on Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City to block protesters heading to Batasang Pambansa where the President will deliver his penultimate address to the nation.
Senior Inspector Maricar Taqueban, public information officer of the Quezon City Police District, told INQUIRER.net that 3,700 police were deployed at Batasang Pambansa, Sandiganbayan and the stretch of Commonwealth.
Taqueban said the police force was composed of QCPD police, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
She said an estimated 2,000 militants have gathered in front of the Ever Gotesco.
She, however, said that an estimated of 10,000 protesters were expected to join the rally later in the day.
According to her, the police will enforce maximum tolerance unless the protesters persist.
She added that police would arrest anyone who would violate the law and use violence.
On Monday morning, hundreds of militant groups started to gather along Commonwealth Avenue.
As of posting time, no untoward incident between protesters and police has been reported.
Photo by Julliane Love de Jesus/INQUIRER.net
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