NCRPO designates SONA no-rally zones

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has banned the holding of rallies on a 600-meter stretch from the St. Peter’s Church on Commonwealth Avenue to the Commission on Audit in Quezon City during President Arroyo’s 6th State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasan Complex on July 24.

Metro police chief Director Vidal Querol declared the area as a "zone of peace and security," which would be occupied by anti-riot policemen tasked to secure Mrs. Arroyo’s SONA.

"We are banning rallies in the area. We are appealing to rally organizers and leaders to refrain from marching toward the said zone because we will not hesitate to disperse them," Querol said in an interview.

Querol said he expects Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. to grant militant and opposition groups permits to stage their rallies near the Ever Gotesco area, also on Commonwealth Avenue. Pro-Arroyo forces would be allowed to occupy the COA area.

Militant group Bayan announced that it would file an application for a permit today, along with its allied organizations.

Querol, accompanied by Chief Superintendent Nicasio Radovan Jr., director of the Quezon City Police District, and Superintendent Julius Abanes, commander of QCPD-Station 6 in Batasan, conducted a "walk-through" at the complex and inspected the rally sites yesterday.

Abanes said all entry and exit points at the Batasan Complex from Fairview, Montalban, San Mateo and Commonwealth Avenue would be sealed off by anti-riot policemen during the SONA.

"We have prepared an elaborate security plan and Gen. Querol was satisfied with our SONA preparations," said Abanes, adding that officials in Barangay Batasan would play an important role in implementing the tight security measures on July 24.

The NCRPO chief said one lane of Commonwealth Avenue would be closed to traffic during the SONA. The other would be declared a two-way thoroughfare.

Querol appealed to rallyists to keep off the area so as not to disrupt the flow of vehicles.

In his meeting with retired Gen. Bayani Fabic, the Lower House sergeant-at-arms, Querol emphasized that the NCRPO would only take care of the security outside the Batasan Complex.

The Batasan compound would be secured by members of the Special Action Force (SAF), the elite fighting unit of the Philippine National Police (PNP), along with in-house security forces under Task Force Sunshine.

Querol advised Fabic to conduct a thorough search of bags and belongings and identify all persons entering the premises.

"He should also watch out for Trojan Horses, like party-list representatives and their staff who might take advantage of the situation by bringing in materials to embarrass the President," Querol said.

The Metro police chief admitted that the arrest of the six Magdalo soldiers at their safehouse in Quezon City last Friday was a setback for groups out to oust Mrs. Arroyo from power.

"But we should not lower our guard. We are looking out for desperate people like remnants of the Magdalo group, which might take advantage of the situation," he said.

Querol, his five district directors and 37 station commanders would be meeting today at Camp Aguinaldo with their counterparts from the military to discuss SONA security preparations.