Saturday, July 17, 2010

Police to deploy 10,000 men for Aquino 1st SONA

At least 10,000 policemen will be deployed around Metro Manila during President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III's first State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 26.

Director Roberto Rosales of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said majority of the policemen will be tasked to secure areas near the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City.

Rosales said the policemen will be positioned from Elliptical Road to Commonwealth Avenue, up to the St. Peter's Church and Sandiganbayan area.

He said the front and rear portions of the congressional building will also be peppered with policemen.

Rosales added that 3 days before Aquino's first SONA, the NCRPO will install closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in strategic areas in Metro Manila.

He said the police leadership is scheduled to meet next week with militant group members and representatives from the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and the local government of Quezon City to come up with an agreement on the activists' movements during the SONA.

Rosales said they included the CHR in the meeting to make sure the demonstrators' human rights will not be violated.

He assured that all policemen, who will be deployed for the SONA, will be strictly advised not to bring service firearms.

Meanwhile, the NCRPO on Saturday held a contest among police civil disturbance units. The winning unit will be deployed as anti-riot policemen during the SONA.

Rosales said the Northern Police District's civil disturbance team won the contest.

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