Metro police to secure GMA’s SONA

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has started drafting measures to secure the Batasan Pambansa complex in Quezon City for President Arroyo’s fifth State of the National Address (SONA) on July 25.

NCRPO chief Director Vidal Querol met with his five district directors on Friday to map out their plan of action for the SONA.

Hours earlier, 10 administration officials resigned and demanded Mrs. Arroyo to step down.

Political parties followed suit. Some declared support to the breakaway group headed by former Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and some continue to pledge support for the embattled Chief Executive.

Despite the prevailing political crisis, Querol is confident that the President‘s SONA will push through as scheduled. "The political situation has subsided so there’s no way the SONA would be cancelled," said Querol.

Reports circulated yesterday that to prevent violent confrontation between government forces and groups calling for her resignation, Malacañang is contemplating on transferring the SONA to the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City or in Cebu, where the President garnered more votes in the last elections.

But Querol said no such advisory came from Malacañang. According to Querol, he intends to place the 17,000-strong NCRPO on red alert status days before the SONA to prevent criminals and terrorist groups from taking advantage of the situation. As agreed with his district directors, he said anti-government groups will be asked to confine their activities at the Ever Gotesco shopping complex along Commonwealth Ave.

"Even the media will be asked to put up their OV vans in the area because we will not allow the rallyists to occupy other areas near the Batasan Pambansa complex except the road in front of the shopping center," Querol told The Star.

"The yearly SONA is a security nightmare but the NCRPO will cope with the challenge," Querol added.

Named as Task Force commander of the civil disturbance management unit was Chief Superintendent Augusto Angcanan, the NCRPOs deputy chief for administration. But it will be CPD director Chief Superintendent Nicasio Radovan who will play the lead role in securing the vicinity of the Batasan Pambansa complex.

According to Querol, the northbound portion of the Commonwealth Avenue will be closed to traffic while the left portion will be converted into a two-way traffic for use by motorists traveling from Novaliches, Caloocan City and Bulacan to Manila and other parts of Metro Manila and vice versa.

Traffic policemen would be posted on the left side of the Commonwealth Avenue, to guide motorists to their destinations.

Meanwhile, supporters of ousted President Joseph Estrada and a coalition of militant groups are expected to stage a massive protest rally.

He urged organizers to secure a permit from the local government of Quezon City.

"We will respect their rights to air their grievances against the government but they must not resort to violence because we will not hesitate to arrest them," warned Querol.

Senior Superintendent Felipe Rojas Jr., NCRPO intelligence chief, said Estrada supporters and militant groups would continue conducting "dry-runs" of their protest rally to seek the resignation of Mrs. Arroyo days prior to the SONA.