THE House of Representatives will implement stricter security measures in this year’s State of the Nation Address to prevent any possible violence by drug lords and terrorists.
House Sergeant-at-Arms Ronald Detabali, at a news conference, said drug lords who have been affected by President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs could use the occasion to retaliate and sow terror.
“Definitely we will impose heightened security measures not only because of the current problem on ISIS, but because of the huge achievements of the President especially in the war on drugs and criminality,” Detabali said.
Without giving details, Detabali said there would be more security personnel from the Presidential Security Group, Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines and House security personnel compared to President Rodrigo Duterte’s first Sona last year.
As they did last year, House leaders urged lawmakers and guests to do away with the ostentatious and to instead dress simply.
“The Speaker says the Sona is going to be a working day and so officials and employees are advised to wear inexpensive modest clothes. It could be Filipinia dress, but not long gown; it could also be business attire,” said House Secretary-General Cesar Pareja.
Metro Manila police director Oscar Albayalde said 6,000 men from the National Capital Region Police Office and 2,000 men from the Metro Manila Development Authority will be deployed to ensure peace and order and manage the flow of traffic during the Sona on July 24.
Albayalde said he and other NCRPO officials would discuss security deployment for the Sona with Quezon City Police District chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar, who is the overall commander of the police forces to be deployed to the Batasan Pambansa complex.
Albayalde said security measures during the Sona would be stricter this year because of some issues such as the martial law in Mindanao and the ongoing armed conflict in Marawi City.
He added the NCRPO will implement security adjustments for this year’s Sona upon orders from Malacañang.
The NCRPO chief said they had added 2,000 policemen due to the presence of Islamic State-leaning sympathizers in Metro Manila.
Metro Manila is under heightened alert in light of the threat posed by members of the extremist Maute group.
The Maute group on May 23 attacked Marawi City resulting in the declaration of martial law in Mindanao.
Albayalde’s office recently received information that a document was being circulated through social media that a series of bombings would be launched anytime in the National Capital Region.
That memo, dated June 16, spoke of a series of terror attacks planned by the extremist Maute group in Manila, Makati and Quezon City.
Last year, protesters were allowed to conduct rallies during Duterte’s first Sona.
Albayalde also said officials of the Commission on Human Rights would meet with anti-riot policemen days before the Sona.
During the Metro Manila Council meeting, MMDA chairman Danilo Lim said the traffic enforcers will manage the crowd and vehicular flow during the event.
Lim also advised motorists to take alternate routes since traffic flow is expected to be heavy due to protesters.
Authorities earlier said three lanes on the northbound of Commonwealth Avenue will be allotted for protesters this year.
In 2016 Sona, two lanes were allotted to protesters but they also occupied another lane and snarled the traffic flow on the major thoroughfare. Plastic barriers will also be installed near the Batasan Complex.
The MMDA’s Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program, commonly known as the “number-coding,” will remain in effect.
Emergency personnel will also on standby, including fire trucks and ambulances.
