PNP-SAF trucks seen in vicinity of Batasang Pambansa, a day before House special session

A convoy of trucks of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) was seen on Batasan Road in Quezon City on Monday near the Batasang Pambansa, a day before the special session at the House of Representatives.

The trucks were parked in front of the Quezon City Police District Station 6, according to a report by Allan Gatus on Dobol B sa News TV.

Also with the trucks was an ambulance and other vehicles.

A PNP-SAF official told Super Radyo dzBB they were deployed to the area and are currently awaiting further instruction.

He added that they came from Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

QCPD Station 6 commander Police Lieutenant Colonel Romulus Gadaoni asked the PNP-SAF to move the trucks so as not to attract much attention.

House Secretary General Jose Luis Montales told GMA News Online in a text message on Monday that his office did not ask for deployment of PNP-SAF in the area.

"Re PNP-SAF, we are not aware of this. We did not ask for them," Montales said.

To augment troops

SAF director Police Brigadier General Bernabe Balba said the deployment of SAF commandos was just to augment troops.

"Palagi naman tayong nagde-deploy kahit saan basta may activity. Ano lang kami just to augment 'yung mga troops, for the maintenance of order," Balba told reporters.

He said policemen are always ready just in case there will be activities such as possible rallies. Balba, however, said they are not expecting that there will be a commotion in the area.

Balba said the commandos were pulled out past 1 p.m.

President Rodrigo Duterte called for a special session of Congress to ensure the timely passage of the proposed 2021 national budget, Malacañang said Friday.

Palace spokesperson Harry Roque said the special session is scheduled for October 13 to 16 “to resume the congressional deliberations on the proposed 2021 national budget and to avoid any further delays on its prompt passage.”

Montales confirmed that session remains suspended on Monday and will resume at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 13.

The House on Tuesday suspended its session until November 16 without passing the national spending bill on final reading. 

The abrupt suspension took place amid a leadership squabble between Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco, both allies of the President who brokered a term-sharing agreement for the speakership last year. —With reports from Erwin Colcol and Anna Felicia Bajo/KG/RSJ, GMA News