Cops hold simulationsfor Marcos' 4th SoNA

The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) on Saturday hosted the final inter-agency coordinating conference in preparation for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fourth State of the Nation Address (SoNA).

Led by Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin, chief of the National Capital Region Police Office, the conference brought together representatives from key government agencies and law enforcement units to finalize deployment strategies and emergency protocols.

After the discussions, simulation exercises and tabletop scenarios were held to test readiness and address possible disruptions during the annual address.

“In these simulation and tabletop exercises, we are not just preparing for an event,” said QCPD Acting Director Col. Randy Glenn Silvio.

“We are strengthening systems, clarifying responsibilities, and ensuring that we act as one coordinated force in safeguarding not just the president and the nation’s leaders, but the very integrity of our democratic institutions.”

Aberin emphasized the importance of peacekeeping and the protection of civil liberties. “Our role is to preserve peace while respecting democratic freedoms,” he said.

He also ordered intensified checkpoint operations and reaffirmed mission roles with the Highway Patrol Group, Land Transportation Office, and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

Retired Maj. Gen. Napoleon Taas, sergeant-at-arms of the House of Representatives, said the coordinated response reflects a “whole-of-government responsibility.”

“This is not just a police operation,” Taas said. “It is a whole-of-government responsibility.”

Retired Brig. Gen. Elmo San Diego, head of the Quezon City Department of Public Order and Safety, urged police to maintain balance between order and freedom. “Let us balance the right to assemble with the duty to secure vital institutions,” he said.

Earlier, on 16 July, Station 6 of the QCPD conducted SoNA readiness simulations at the Batasan Police Station involving SWAT, EOD-K9, medical teams, SOCO, drone operators, barangay responders, and House of Representatives staff.

The drills included responses to rallies, security breaches, checkpoint stops, and a simulated hostage situation with a three-minute response benchmark.

“The simulation exercises reflect our commitment in providing swift and responsive public service while ensuring public safety and readiness for a secure and orderly SoNA 2025,” Silvio said.