UP to late yesterday, no security threat has been monitored and the PNP is confident that President Marcos Jr.’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA) today, Monday, at the Batasang Pambansa complex in Quezon City will be peaceful and orderly.
“We are confident in the sense that we’ve considered everything,” PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said, referring to every possible scenario that may arise during the event.
“As of today, we have not monitored any serious threat to disrupt the SONA but we will remain active,” Fajardo added.
Col. Francel Margareth Padilla, the spokesperson of the Armed Forces, said the commander of the Presidential Security Group, Brig. Gen. Jesus Nelson Morales, has declared there is no threat to the safety of the President during the SONA.
“On the side of the Armed Forces, we are also ready,” Padilla told a radio interview. “In terms of security, we are ready to provide additional troops.
“They (PSG personnel) are also ready to perform our mandate in securing the President and other dignitaries for this upcoming SONA,” said Padilla.
Fajardo said the PNP, in coordination with other security agencies, will continue to conduct intelligence monitoring and gathering “so we can immediately address security threats and challenges” if they arise.
“It’s all system go. All possible scenarios have been considered when it comes to our security preparations,” said Fajardo.
Fajardo said they deployed troops in the vicinity of Batasang Pambansa complex as early as last Friday, adding: “By tomorrow (Monday), we’ll be on full deployment.”
The PNP initially said some 22,000 policemen would be deployed to secure the President’s address. The number later rose to 23,000 personnel.
“We’re already on full alert (status) effective 6 a.m. last Saturday,” said Fajardo. “We’ve activated our Task Force Manila Shield and we will have border control (operations).”
The PNP also implemented a gun ban in Metro Manila starting last Saturday up to today.
Fajardo said anti-government protests will be allowed in the vicinity of the Diliman Doctors Hospital Commonwealth Ave., about six kilometers away from the Batasang Pambansa complex.
“Hopefully, through our early coordination with them, the protest actions of the different (anti-government) groups will be orderly,” said Fajardo. “That’s our agreement, we’ve reached out to them long before the SONA.”
Fajardo said 30 people held protests at the Quezon Memorial Circle at around 10:40 a.m. yesterday. The protesters later dispersed on their own.
“So far it’s quiet and peaceful in the vicinity, around Batasan complex,” said Fajardo.
The Eastern police district (EPD) will deploy 1,010 of its personnel for the SONA, according to EPD Director Brig. Gen Wilson Asueta.
NUMBER CODING
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will not suspend the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program or the number coding scheme today.
“We will not suspend the implementation of the number coding scheme because if we suspend it, the number of vehicles on the roads will lead to traffic congestion,” MMDA chief Romando Artes said.
Under the number coding scheme, vehicles with license plates ending in 1 and 2 are prohibited on Mondays, 3 and 4 on Tuesdays, 5 and 6 on Wednesdays, 7 and 8 on Thursdays, and 9 and 0 on Fridays.
Artes said the agency is ready for today’s SONA, adding that 1,329 personnel will be deployed to manage vehicular and pedestrian traffic, assist in emergency response, conduct rounds of road and sidewalk clearing operations, assist in crowd control, and traffic monitoring.
“More than 500 traffic enforcers will be deployed on the Commonwealth IBP Road as early as 6 a.m. tomorrow,” he said
A traffic management and rerouting plan will also be put in place while Artes advised motorists to take alternate routes to avoid the anticipated heavy traffic on Commonwealth Ave. and in the vicinity of the Batasang Pambansa Complex.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has ordered a city-wide suspension of classes in all public and private schools today.
Brigada Eskwela is also suspended in all public schools in the city.
In issuing Executive Order No.16 ordering the suspension of classes, Belmonte said “residents and students of Quezon City may be affected by road closures which will undeniably affect the flow of traffic of both motorists and the riding public.”
She also encouraged residents and students of Quezon City to listen to the President’s SONA. — With Ashzel Hachero and Christian Oineza
