Chief Supt. Oscar Albayalde, head of the NCRPO (Photo from the Philippine Daily Inquirer)
The Philippine National Police said they have not received any terror threat related to President Rodrigo Duterte’s upcoming second State of the Nation Address (Sona) next Monday, despite reported plans of the New People’s Army to stage attacks.
“Walang nakukuhang any security threat relative to Sona. We’ll be conducting operations as part of target hardening measures just like what we did during major events na ginagawa sa NCR….Specifically wala tayong nakukuhang terror threat,” National Capital Region Police Office Director Oscar Albayalde said in a press briefing on Tuesday.
On Monday, PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said there were reports of NPA planning to stage attacks in Davao City ahead of the Sona.
The PNP earlier said that there will be 6,300 policemen deployed for the Sona, which was more than the 4,000 deployed last year.
“The skeletal deployment is this weekend already. The full deployment is on the early morning of July 24,” Albayalde said.
“We have conducted dialogues already with the different stakeholders, iyong ating mga kababayan na militanteng grupo, and of course with barangay officials na maapektuhan sa Batasan,” he also said.
The police also expect a crowd of 12,000 to 15,000, based on estimates of the protesters themselves.
The protesters could go as near as 15 to 20 meters from the south gate of Batasan.
Albayalde said more security personnel were deployed this year because there were additional areas to be secured.
“We cannot take any chances here. Last year kasi walang issue, walang threat. Ngayon may martial law, ongoing peace talks,” he said. JE/rga