POLICE officers from the National Capital Region Police Office and the Quezon City Police District attend the send-off at Camp Karingal in Quezon City as part of the preparations for the third State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday. The NCRPO has augmented at least 2,000 cops for the security of the event.
Photograph by Analy Labor for DAILY TRIBUNE
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The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said Saturday it has finalized its security and traffic plans for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), designating protest areas and implementing stricter crowd-control measures ahead of Monday's event.
PMaj. Hazel Asilo said authorities are conducting final inspections of designated rally sites to determine where barriers will be placed and how many lanes will be allocated for demonstrators while ensuring traffic continues to flow.
“Chine-check natin kung ilang lanes ang posibleng lagyan ng barrier para bigyang-daan ang mga pagtitipon, kung ilang lanes ang isasara para hindi maabala ang ating mga motorista,” she said.
Asilo said the traffic plan includes a zipper lane scheme, with steel barriers replacing plastic barriers to prevent them from being moved by protesters.
“Magkakaroon ng zipper lane. Sa halip na plastic barriers, steel barriers ang ilalagay para hindi ma-move ng mga raliyista. 'Yung inner lane ay para sa mga motorista at 'yung outer lane ay ia-allow para sa mga raliyista,” she added.
She also said the NCRPO has not received any validated information about a reported gathering by the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) outside its premises, noting that authorities are aware only of activities scheduled within church compounds.
As of Saturday, only three groups — the Better Brighter Movement, BAYAN and Sanlakas — had secured rally permits for the SONA.
According to the NCRPO, authorized protesters will be allowed to demonstrate only up to Capitol Estates, while another group has been assigned an assembly area in front of the Commission on Audit (COA).
The NCRPO said it will deploy 21,261 personnel to secure the Batasang Pambansa Complex, major thoroughfares, transport terminals, border control points, designated rally sites, government installations and other critical locations across Metro Manila.
Police said they will continue coordinating with rally organizers and other government agencies to ensure peaceful demonstrations while maintaining public order during the President's annual address.
