Cops brace for anti-SONA protests
Police visibility is at its highest today in and around Iloilo City while maximum police tolerance will once again be the unspoken rule.
This, as Ilonggos join the entire country to witness the most awaited State Of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
As usual, the SONA will be met by red-flag bearing members of leftist and militant groups in protest rallies set at the city’s perennial rally spots.
City police are under orders to be extra vigilant today alongside the military with tighter watch in place to secure government’s vital installations.
Top provincial and city officials particularly those in the administration are expected to be present particularly Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas.
With the President’s SONA comes the own street version of the protesters, an almost yearly “tradition” here and elsewhere the country.
Joining uniformed police personnel are plainclothes policemen and policewomen while members of the city’s traffic management unit have been “SONA-briefed” as well.
Meanwhile, Deputy Regional Director for Operations Col Arnulfo Perez said they have undertaken the usual, normal security measures for a national significant event like the SONA, like mobilization of all provincial and city police stations including the Regional Mobile Group.
For possible conduct of mass actions by some sectors, PRO 6 has instructed their various units to organize crowd management platoons.
Intelligence networks are also in place to continue monitor any possible and probable activities and elements that disrupt peace and order situation.
Likewise, Perez said, maximum tolerance will be exercised while police visibility will be strong, especially in the vicinity of vital government installations and other institutions.