Tighter security for Sona vs possible terror, criminal threats—House official

Security will be heightened at the House of Representatives for the second State of the Nation Address (Sona) of President Rodrigo Duterte due to possible threats from terrorist groups and criminal syndicates, an official said on Wednesday.

In a press briefing at the House of Representatives, the House Sergeant-at-Arms retired Lt. Gen. Ronald Detabali said there would be intensified security especially in light of the continued battle between government troops and Maute terrorists in Marawi City since the imposition of martial law in Mindanao.

Detabali also cited the criminal syndicates who are targets of the Duterte administration’s bloody war on drugs, and other terrorist groups who have sworn allegiance to the Islamic State (ISIS).

Detabali said the lower House should be vigilant especially because terrorist groups have attacked even the most advanced nations in Europe and United States.

“Sa maraming nagawa sa war on drugs and criminality, and ‘yung Maute group and other ISIS backed terror groups and criminal syndicates, personally kailangan dagdagan talaga ang vigilance and security measure na gagawin not only by security forces, but also by citizenry,” Detabali said.

(With all that has happened with the war on drugs and criminality, as well as the Maute group and other ISIS backed terror groups and criminal syndicates, there really needs to be heightened vigilance and security measures not only by security forces, but also by citizenry.)

Detabali said security should be tight because it would not look good if the President’s report to the nation is marred by an attack.

“Dito nakataya ‘yung pagbibigay ng report ng ating Presidente. It would not look good ‘pag may mangyaring mali,” he said.

(The report of our President is at stake. It would not look if anything wrong would happen.)

President Duterte will deliver his second Sona on July 24 at the House of Representatives. JE