MANILA – The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) announced on Monday (01 July 2024) that over 22,000 police officers and force multipliers will be deployed to secure President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 22.
NCRPO Chief Maj. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., who also serves as Task Force SONA commander, detailed that the deployment will include 17,971 officers from Metro Manila, 1,879 from regional offices including Central Luzon and Calabarzon, and 2,771 personnel from other government agencies.
“We will deploy sub-task groups led by district directors to provide not just security but also medical assistance in coordination with public and private agencies,” Nartatez stated. The five districts under NCRPO are Manila, Quezon City, Northern, Eastern, and Southern.
Preparations include simulations to test the effectiveness of their security measures. Aside from securing the House of Representatives in Batasan, Quezon City, police will also cover malls, churches, and critical infrastructure such as transport terminals, airports, and seaports.
Enhanced security measures will be in place at potential protest sites, including Chino Roces Bridge near Malacañang, the U.S. Embassy in Manila, and the EDSA Shrine in Quezon City.
(el Amigo/mnm)