AFP troops, assets on standby for Sona

The Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Joint Task Force-National Capital Region (AFP’s JTF-NCR) has placed its soldiers and assets on standby for the first State of the Nation Address of President Rodrigo Duterte.

READ: ‘Duterte SONA powerful, patriotic’

JTF-NCR acting commander Col. Vic Tomas on Monday said they have deployed six crowd control companies (or 600 soldiers in total) and several air and land assets.

Military assets that were deployed include eight K-9 teams, eight explosive ordnance disposal teams, five ambulance-medic teams, a platoon of quick reaction force, three special reconnaissance teams, and one CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense) platoon.

They also placed one mass casualty decontamination unit, a rescue helicopter, air traffic controller team, a communication van and a rapid deployment force with armor units.

READ: Sona traffic advisory for QC

The AFP’s JTF-NCR went on red alert Sunday midnight for the Sona to be held at Batasang Pambansa.

Tomas said they will be in support of the police to secure the Sona. JE/rga

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