PNP activates task force for SONA 2022, 9 gun ban violators nabbed

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Sunday said it has already activated the Task Force Manila Shield as part of its security preparations ahead of the first State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on July 25.

In a Super Radyo dzBB interview, PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said law enforcers will be fully deployed on Monday morning in all checkpoints around the Batasang Pambansa where the SONA will be held.

“Kahapon ay activated na ‘yung ating Task Force Manila Shield at nag-start na rin tayong maglagay ng mga random checkpoint. But for purposes ng SONA ay madaling araw pa lang ng Lunes ay nandiyan na ang ating full deployment. At this early, meron na tayong soft deployment diyan sa kahabaan at paligid ng Batasan Complex,” she said.

(Our Task Force Manila Shield was activated yesterday and we have started to put random checkpoints. For the purposes of SONA, we will have a full deployment by early Monday morning. This early, we already have a soft deployment along and around the Batasan Complex.)

The activation of the task force came a day after the start of the imposition of a gun ban in Metro Manila from July 22 to July 27.

Fajardo said that as of 12 midnight, at least nine individuals were arrested and six firearms and deadly weapons were confiscated due to the gun ban.

“‘Yung iba po diyan ay police response habang nagpapatupad ‘yung ating kapulisan ng kanilang tungkulin. ‘Yung iba naman ay search warrant (some of them were arrested through police response, while others were through search warrants),” she said.

Fajardo also said the PNP has not yet received any security threats a day before the SONA, but they have gotten reports about pocket protest rallies that will be conducted around the Batasan Complex.

She added that separate police teams will be deployed along Commonwealth Avenue-Tandang Sora and IBP Road to monitor the activities and ensure the safety of both the pro- and anti-Marcos rallyists.

“May naka-standby tayong mobile jail na galing sa Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP). On the part of the PNP, lagi naman nating sinasabi na we will exercise maximum tolerance at ayaw nga nating magkaroon ng anumang tensyon at kaguluhan between the law enforcers at sa pagitan ng mga magra-rally,” she said.

(We have a mobile jail on standby from the BJMP. On the part of the PNP, we always say that we will exercise maximum tolerance and we do not want any tension and chaos between the law enforcers and those who will rally.)

According to a report of Luisito Santos on dzBB,the PNP’s anti-riot shields that may be used against protesters who will try to enter the Batasan Complex were already placed along the IBP Road in Quezon City.

The local government of Quezon City allowed the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) and its allied organizations to hold a protest on Commonwealth Avenue after the city's Department of Public Order and Safety denied on Thursday the group’s application for a permit to hold a rally on Batasan Road.

Meanwhile, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte canceled classes in all levels for private and public schools in the city on Monday, July 25, in light of Marcos' first SONA. —KG, GMA News