NCRPO on full alert for Marcos' 2024 SONA

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will be on full alert status starting Sunday in light of the third State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. on Monday, July 22.

“On Sunday, we'll be on full alert,” NCRPO chief Police Major General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. told reporters in an ambush interview after a send-off ceremony for police personnel for Marcos’ SONA.

Full alert means all personnel will render their duty during the event.

Nartatez said 23,000 police personnel will be deployed to secure Marcos’ SONA, which will be held at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.

Of the total deployment, Nartatez said 8,000 personnel will be assigned to the Commonwealth Avenue and IBP Road areas. They will be divided into 15 groups.

Quezon City’s Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS) head Elmo San Diego told reporters that his office has received applications for a permit to rally on SONA Day.

A venue has been provided for the pro-administration rally. However, the anti-government rally is still insisting to have the St. Peter Parish area as their venue.

“Yung pro-government natin definitely binigay na naming yung [Commonwealth Avenue-Sandiganbayan area] doon sa may kanto lagpas lang nang kaunti kasabay din ng activity natin sa SONA,” he said.

(We definitely gave the pro-government rally at the Commonwealth Avenue-Sandiganbayan area at the same time as our activity in SONA.)

“Itong anti-government, yung mga progressive group. Ang provision ng [Batas Pambansa 880] kasi i-endorse namin sa [Quezon City Police District] for comment. Yung letter sa akin, ang gusto nila ay St. Peter. Definitely, hindi ibibigay ang St. Peter pero pag-uusapan pa naming kung saan ang puwede,” he added.

(For the anti-government, the progressive groups, under a Batas Pambansa 880 provision, we have to endorse it to the Quezon City Police District for comment. Based on the groups’ letter, they want the St. Peter church. Definitely, it will not be granted but we will discuss where they can hold their rally.)

Citing a consultation with the police and other security agencies, San Diego said the Tandang Sora area is the only venue that they can provide to the protesters.

“Kasi yun ang template namin (Because that is our template) for several years,” he added.

According to Nartatez, maximum tolerance will be accorded the SONA protesters.

Earlier in the day, Philippine National Police spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said they have recommended allowing protesters only up to Commonwealth Avenue-Tandang Sora Avenue on SONA Day.

Interviewed on Unang Balita, Fajardo said they also suggested to the Quezon City government that they allow pro-adminstration rallies around the Commission on Audit (COA) building area. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News