PNP: 12,000 cops to secure Marcos’ 4th SONA

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday said around 12,000 personnel will be deployed to secure the fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on July 28.

PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo made the statement during a press briefing right after a command conference led by PNP chief Police General Nicolas Torre III.

“Mga more or less 12,000 ang ide-deploy po for SONA. Kasama po dyan yung made-deploy within the vicinity of the House of Representatives (HOR),” Fajardo said.

(More or less 12,000 will be deployed for SONA. That includes those deployed within the vicinity of the House of Representatives (HOR).)

“Tomorrow, magkakaroon ng (we will have a) coordinating conference together with the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms ng HOR to iron out some of the security protocols that will be observed within and outside of the HOR,” she added.

Fajardo said Torre directed PNP personnel to conduct an "honest-to-goodness" threat assessment for the event that will be held at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City.

"If there is a need to adjust po yung mga nakasanayan na nating security template at magbibigay po sila ng updated threat estimates as to including po yung possible number ng magko-conduct po ng activities particularly yung mga rallies both for pro- and anti- (administration),” Fajardo said.

(If there is a need to adjust our usual security templates, they will provide updated threat estimates including the possible number of people who will conduct activities, particularly rallies, both for pro and anti-administration.)

According to Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro, Marcos is already preparing for his fourth SONA.

He is set to provide a better report on his projects and accomplishments, Castro said. 

Asked earlier if the police organization will make adjustments to its preparations considering that there is an ongoing impeachment issue of Vice President Sara Duterte, Torre said it depends on the estimate from the intelligence they receive.

The Vice President will not be attending Marcos’ fourth SONA, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco earlier said. 

Velasco said more than 200 guests have confirmed their attendance to the event. — RF, GMA Integrated News