QCPD chief appeals to SONA protesters: ‘Bring your own garbage bag’

Quezon City Police District director Chief Superintendent Joselito Esquivel on Wednesday appealed to protesters, both from the anti- or pro-administration, to bring their own garbage bag during their State of the Nation Address (SONA) rallies to maintain cleanliness on the streets.

"Ang challenge ko lang sa mga rallyista, both dun sa protester and pro-administration is you bring your own garbage bag, all your garbage ilagay niyo doon," Esquivel said in an ambush interview along Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City.

"We will designate a certain na point of collection at after naman nitong activity mabilis tayong mag normalize at malinis at tulong na rin natin sa kalikasan," he added.

Thousands of protesters are expected to flock along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City in time for President Rodrigo Duterte's third SONA on Monday, July 23.

Around 7,000 police personnel will be deployed to secure this year's SONA.

The President will deliver his report to the nation before a joint session of Congress amid criticisms over his human rights record, policy on the South China Sea dispute, rising commodity prices, and stalled peace negotiations with the communist rebels.

Duterte has since instructed the police to exercise "maximum tolerance" toward protesters.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. earlier said Duterte would speak "straight from the heart" and not tout his administration's achievements, delegating it instead to Cabinet members who conducted pre-SONA briefings in the last two weeks. — MDM, GMA News