PNP starts security preps for PBBM’s 1st SONA

FILE: President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s at the Heroes Hall in Malacañang. (ROBINSON NIÑAL/ PCOO)

MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) has started laying out security preparations for the first State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City this month.

In a Laging Handa briefing, PNP spokesperson, Col. Jean Fajardo, said the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has already presented a security plan to Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. for the event.

“Inaasahan natin in the coming days pati yung mga allied agencies at iba pa pong mga government agencies that will be tasked to coordinate and cooperate dito sa ating paghahanda ay isasama na natin sa mga meetings and conferences in preparation sa darating na SONA ng ating Presidente (We hope that in the coming days, the allied agencies and other government agencies that will be tasked to coordinate and cooperate in our preparation will be included in the meetings and conferences in preparation for the coming SONA of our President),” Fajardo said.

Meanwhile, NCRPO chief, Maj. Gen. Felipe Natividad, said they will use the same security template during the major events following the May 9 elections.

“As early as now we are preparing for that already, (on the deployment of the cops) We will do that two weeks before so we are preparing as early as this time. We will adopt the same (security) template nung mga ginawa natin nung eleksyon, proclamation and inauguration (of President Marcos). We hope that our fellow Filipinos will also cooperate with us,” Natividad said in a phone interview.

A series of oculars, walk-throughs, and inter-agency coordination will also be held until the actual day of the SONA on July 25, according to the Presidential Security Group (PSG).

The SONA is a constitutional obligation and yearly tradition where the President reports on the current situation of the country, unveils the government’s agenda for the coming year, and proposes to Congress certain legislative measures.

The 1987 Constitution fixed the date of the SONA “every year on the fourth Monday of July.” It also marks the start of a new regular session of Congress.