NCRPO: No security threats monitored for Duterte's 1st SONA

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has not monitored any security threat for President Rodrigo Duterte's first State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, a police official said. 

"Mas maliit po ng bilang ng mga pulis ang ating itatalaga dahil wala po tayong nakukuhang report, ayon po ito sa ating NCRPO chief (Oscar Albayalde), na magiging mas manageable pagkat nga po ay wala tayong nakikikitang problemang seguridad sa Lunes," PNP spokesperson Senior Supt. Dionardo Carlos said on Saturday.

The NCRPO has been placed on full alert ahead of the event, where 16,000 policemen will be deployed.

Of this number, about 11,000 personnel will be assigned to secure the Batasan Pambansa complex and its vicinity.

The police had also said they did not expect any violent protests considering that the militant groups seemed to be allied with the President.

Rallyists can now gather up to the St. Peter's Church along Commonwealth Avenue, a break from the previous police practice of blocking them from going past Ever Gotesco Mall, according to Quezon City Police District director Senior Superintendent Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar.

The distance between the church and the mall is around 600 meters.

"Gusto natin sila pagbigyan na we are one with all people here. Lahat tayo masaya, mayroon tayong Presidente na popular sa lahat. We're trying to accommodate the request but we are also considering also yung peace and order situation," Eleazar told reporters in Quezon City.

Eleazar said they will also do away with barbed wires and container vans this time. — Virgil Lopez/VVP, GMA News