THE PNP yesterday activated Task Force Manila Shield, with more than 15,000 police officers, soldiers, coast guard personnel, and force multipliers tasked to ensure the peaceful and secure inauguration of President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday, June 30.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano, who joined ranking police and military officials in a meeting of the sub-committee on security, traffic, and communication of the Presidential Transition Committee, said “all hands are on deck” for the oath-taking at the National Museum.
“With only two days before the inauguration, the sub-committee can proudly declare that we are all systems go in terms of security preparations,” Ano said in a press conference at Camp Crame.
“Our policemen have the mandate to enforce maximum tolerance and the rule of law and if needed, they can apply reasonable force depending on the action of the protesters. If you want to hold protest actions, do it peacefully,” he added.
He said the President-elect is expected to deliver his speech at around 10:50 a.m. and will be finished before noon.
Ano said the sub-committee expanded its membership to include the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Science and Technology, the weather bureau (Pag-asa), Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, Philippine Coast Guard, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines;
Office of Civil Defense, the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency “to guarantee that all facets of this crucial event are well-covered and attended to.”
The sub-committee previously had for its members the PNP, Bureau of Fire Protection, the Armed Forces, Department of Information and Communications Technology, and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.
Aside from the expansion of the sub-committee, Ano said they have also added “an extra layer of protection and precaution” amid intelligence reports that communist terrorist groups are planning to disrupt the occasion.
Ano warned that “any attempt to embarrass, discredit, or sabotage the forthcoming inauguration” will be dealt with accordingly, citing reports that anti-Marcos groups will hold simultaneous protest actions in various parts of the country on Thursday aimed “to put some shame acts.”
He said checkpoints have been established in various areas of Metro Manila as part of security preparations, adding a gun ban will also be in effect in the metropolis from June 28 to July 2.
Major roads around the National Museum will be temporarily closed to vehicles.
He said even pro-Marcos supporters will not be allowed to hold mass actions at the vicinity of the National Museum, adding they will only be allowed in designated freedom parks, like the anti-Marcos groups. Burning of effigies will also not be allowed.
Ano reminded those who will physically attend the event to observe minimum health safety protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19, adding the Presidential Security Group has set up a triage area at the vicinity of the National Museum to screen VIPs who will attend the event.
Ano said a military and civic parade will be held before the actual oath-taking ceremony.
Sixty buses will also pick up special guests to and from the National Museum.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority has implemented traffic rerouting and road closures in Manila for the inauguration.
The inauguration day has been declared a holiday in Manila by outgoing Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso.
Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said their main office in Intramuros, Manila has been operating on a skeleton workforce for three days beginning Monday due to the road closures.
Work at the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and all metropolitan and regional trial courts in Manila also have been suspended from June 29 to 30.
The directive was issued by Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo and CA Presiding Justice Remedios Salazar Fernando.
The road closures, which will take effect until June 30 at 11 p.m., will be at the following:
Padre Burgos Avenue; Finance Road; Ma. Orosa St. from TM Kalaw to P. Burgos; Gen. Luna St. from P. Burgos to Muralla St. and on June 30 from 4 a.m. to 11 p.m. at Ayala Boulevard and Victoria S. from Taft Avenue to Muralla.
The MMDA said northbound vehicles coming from Roxas Blvd. should turn right at UN Ave. or Kalaw Ave., then turn left at Taft Ave. to reach their points of destination;
Eastbound vehicles coming from Roxas Blvd. should turn left at Kalaw Ave. or UN Ave., then turn right at Taft Ave.;
All northbound trucks coming from South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) should take Osmeña Highway, turn left at Quirino Ave. then turn right at Roxas Boulevard and go straight to Bonifacio Drive.
Roxas Boulevard (from Gil Puyat to P. Burgos) will be closed to traffic on June 30 from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Additional road closures on June 29 at 12:01 a.m. to June 30 at 11 p.m.
Mendiola Street (June 30, 4 a.m. to 11 p.m.), Jalandoni Street, PICC, Pasay City (June 30, 1 p.m. to 11 p.m.), Legarda St., from San Rafael to Figueras Street.
MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said the agency will deploy at least 2,000 personnel for the inauguration while tow trucks and ambulances will be deployed at strategic areas for quick response when needed. — With Ashzel Hachero
