PNP prepares SONA security

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will meet with officials of other police units and government agencies on Wednesday to iron out remaining kinks in their security preparations for President Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 25.

NCRPO chief Director Vidal Querol also scheduled a dialogue with leaders of various militant groups and rally organizers to establish agreements and ground rules for the projected massive protest actions during the SONA.

Querol briefed Friday retired general Bayani Fabic, sergeant-at-arms of the House of Representatives, on the NCRPO’s security preparations for the event.

"General Fabic was satisfied with what he saw including our security measures on VIPs who will attend the SONA," he said.

Querol said Lt. Gen. Allan Cabalquinto, commander of the military’s National Capital Region Command (NCRCom), also committed 1,000 troops for deployment at the Batasan complex.

This raises to a total of 15,000 police and military personnel tasked to guard the Batasang Pambansa complex in Quezon City and surrounding areas on July 25.

Querol said rallyists are allowed to march only within designated areas.

He said policemen have been tasked to exercise maximum tolerance as he appealed to rally organizers to police their ranks to prevent agitators from taking advantage of the situation.

On Wednesday, a meeting will be set with officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police (PNP)-Traffic Management Group, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Department of Public Works and Highways, Bureau of Fire Protection, the PNP’s Public Security and Protective Office and the Department of Health to finalize their security preparations for the SONA.

"This will be our final meeting and we are expected to discuss proper coordination so we could accomplish our job without hitches," Querol said.

A meeting with rally organizers this week will also iron out differences over the designated areas where they will be allowed to hold their demonstrations and the rally permit from the Quezon City government.

"We will appeal to them that whatever area designated them under their permit, they should stay there for the peaceful holding of their rally," Querol said.

"I warn militant groups not to commit violence on SONA day. I will not allow anarchy nor mob rule to govern the day," he said.

The Metro police chief earlier suggested to confine the rallies at the eastbound lane of Commonwealth Avenue in front of the Ever Gotesco shopping mall. He said the rallyists would be barred from passing through the five entry points leading towards the Batasan complex.

Querol named Chief Superintendent Augusto Angcanan, NCRPO’s deputy chief for administration, as overall commander of the anti-riot policemen and military personnel tasked to secure the SONA.

Central Police District (CPD) director Chief Superintendent Nicasio Radovan will act as the ground commander.

The NCRPO also appealed to motorists to take alternate routes since the left portion of Commonwealth Avenue will be converted into a two-way lane.

Senior Superintendent Felipe Rojas Jr., NCRPO intelligence chief, said plainclothes policemen will also be deployed to help security personnel around the Batasan to track down possible infiltrators.

Rojas said supporters of ousted President Joseph Estrada and the usual mix of militant groups are expected to conduct their own SONA to criticize the Arroyo administration.

The same groups which held the rally calling for Mrs. Arroyo’s resignation in Makati City last week will be the same ones expected to appear in the SONA rallies, Rojas said.

"We don’t expect any trouble," Rojas said. "Their effort to push for the resignation of President Arroyo is now on the downward trend. Hindi sold out ang pakulo nila sa taongbayan," Rojas added.

Querol, however, is expecting the SONA demonstrations would be more intense than the Makati rallies.

He said the rallies will be more focused and intense since the issue will be on accusations that Mrs. Arroyo cheated in the last elections.

PNP chief Director General Arturo Lomibao said there should be any reason for rallyists to change the venue of their demonstrations.

Lomibao pointed out that security preparations have been adequately implemented in the past SONAs where the rallyists are expected to converge.

"SONA has been traditionally held at the Batasan Pambansa (complex) and I don’t see any reason to change the venue," he said. - With Cecille Suerte Felipe