Cops on heightened alert for SONA, Eid'l Fit'r, INC centennial

The Philippine National Police will go on heightened alert starting Friday afternoon for three successive major events - the Iglesia ni Cristo centennial, President Benigno Aquino III's State of the Nation Address, and Eidl Fitr.

 

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac said the PNP would go on heightened alert starting 3 p.m. Friday, radio dzBB's Divine Reyes reported Wednesday.

 

The Iglesia Ni Cristo will hold its centennial in Bulacan on Sunday, July 27, while Aquino will deliver his SONA before Congress at the Batasan Complex in Quezon City on Monday, July 28. Eidl Fitr, which for the Muslims marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, falls on Tuesday, July 29.

 

Heightened alert means at least half of the police force must be at his or her post and ready for deployment at any time.

 

A separate report by GMA News' Ian Cruz said some PNP units will be on full alert starting 5 a.m. of July 26 for the SONA. These units include the Special Action Force, National Capital Region Police Office, police regional offices in Central Luzon and Calabarzon

 

Full alert means all police personnel must be at their posts at any time.

 

The dzBB report said at least 3,200 police personnel and 200 soldiers will be deployed for the Iglesia Ni Cristo centennial at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan. —Joel Locsin/NB, GMA News