President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines Joint Task Force NCR to “tone down” the number of troops and soldiers to be deployed in his first State of the Nation Address (Sona) on July 25, Radyo Inquirer 990AM reported on Tuesday.
Colonel Vic Tomas, acting commander of Joint Task Force NCR, said that while the President wished for a simple Sona, they will deploy enough troops to serve as augmentation force of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Presidential Security Group (PSG).
Tomas said that the number of soldiers to be deployed is still not final because they are still preparing and meeting for the security measures of the event.
He said that Duterte wished for a “simple and normal” Sona so as to not disrupt the public, especially commuters, in heavy traffic and road closures brought about by strict security policies.
Duterte earlier expressed his desire for SONA guests to abandon the “fashion show” tradition of wearing grand Filipiniana dresses and instead don simple business attires.
READ: No fashion show on Duterte’s 1st Sona—Alvarez
According to the AFP, there are no threats monitored yet in their preparations for the first SONA of the President. Ma. Czarina A. Fernandez, INQUIRER.net trainee/CDG
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