PNP all set for Marcos inauguration

MANILA, Philippines — Security preparations for the inauguration of president-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. have been finalized, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported yesterday.

PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said there would be a soft deployment of police personnel around the National Museum in the coming days.

At least 6,200 police officers will be fielded at the inauguration site on June 30, Fajaro said.

“We expect that there will be a minor adjustment on the deployment of police. If we need to add more personnel around the National Museum, we have a reserve force that can be tapped when the need arises,” Fajardo told reporters.

Police said every person entering the venue would undergo security checks.

Steel barriers will be placed along the roads that would be closed to traffic, Fajardo said.

PNP director for operations Maj. Gen. Valeriano de Leon said the security measures for the inauguration of Marcos are in place.

De Leon said the PNP would be using almost the same security template they used for the inauguration of vice president-elect Sara Duterte in Davao City on Sunday.

“Of course there will be security adjustments depending on the location and situation on the ground. But overall, the security measures implemented during Duterte’s inauguration would be adopted on June 30,” De Leon said.

Protesters will be allowed to hold demonstrations in the city’s freedom parks such as Plaza Miranda, Plaza Dilao, Plaza Moriones and Liwasang Bonifacio.

“There will be designated spaces for the protesters. I advise them to remain in those areas to prevent any confrontations with police,” De Leon said.

“As mentioned by PNP officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao, we will exercise maximum tolerance, but I appeal to protesters not to push us to our boundaries because we are always prepared to maintain peace and order,” De Leon said.

Simulation exercise

At least 50 police personnel participated yesterday in a simulation exercise in front of the National Museum in preparation for the inauguration of Marcos.

Police officers from the civil disturbance management unit, explosives and ordnance disposal, mobile force battalion, traffic enforcement and the Ermita police station took part in the event, according to  Manila Police District (MPD) director Brig. Gen. Leo Francisco.

Police simulated their response in cases of protest actions, Francisco said.

An explosives and ordnance disposal robot was deployed to simulate a bomb drill, he added.

The MPD will deploy at least 4,000 police personnel to secure Marcos’ inauguration.

The PNP imposed a gun ban in Metro Manila from June 27 to July 2.

Marcos chose as his inaugural venue the old legislative building, which was constructed in 1926 and rebuilt after the war in 1949. Former presidents Manuel Quezon, Jose Laurel and Manuel Roxas were sworn into office at the National Museum. — Marc Jayson Cayabyab