THE compound where President Aquino will deliver his final report on his presidency would virtually become a “garrison” on July 27. This, as thousands of policemen were ordered to guard the area surrounding Congress building west of the country’s capital.
Officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP) said the PNP will deploy a “considerable force” at the House of Representatives compound to keep thousands of rallyists at bay as Aquino delivers his final State of the Nation Address (Sona).
PNP Spokesman and Chief Supt. Wilbern Mayor said a unit called “Force Kapayapaan” will deploy at least 4,000 policemen. Headed by National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Officer in Charge Chief Supt. Allen Bantolo, the unit expects the policemen to guard the stretch of Commonwealth Avenue and the areas surrounding the Batasan Complex, or around the 19-hectare compound. Mayor said antiriot personnel, K-9 dogs and soldiers in charge of defending the capital will also perform guard duties.
Bantolo said security arrangements inside the Batasan Complex and the surrounding areas were finalized on July 24.
Bantolo said they have placed all policemen under the NCRPO on red-alert status as of Friday, as organizations announced intentions to hold protest rallies during the Sona.
One of these groups is the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (New People’s Alliance), or Bayan. Its secretary-general, Renato Reyes, has said their contingent will attempt to go closer to Batasan.
However, the police said they would only allow Bayan and other groups to march only up to Commonwealth Avenue.
Bantolo said the police will observe and implement the state’s “No permit, no rally” policy. While policemen were ordered to observe “maximum tolerance” with the rallyists, Bantolo urged protesters “to also conduct their activities within the limits of the law.”