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July 16, 2010
MANILA – The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has started security preparations for President Benigno Simeon Aquino III’s first state of the nation address (SONA) on July 26 at the House of Representatives in Quezon City, a ranking police official said Friday.
In an interview over GMA-7, NCRPO chief Director Roberto Rosales said that the command’s civil disturbance management (CDM) units have been continuously undergoing training in handling demonstrations
to prevent any confrontation with rallyists. ”We will make sure there will be peaceful and orderly conduct of all activities during President Aquino’s SONA,” he said.
Rosales said the NCRPO’s antiriot personnel have continuously been training on promotions of human rights in close coordination with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR). As part of the preparations, Rosales also said the NCRPO will be conducting dialogue on Wednesday with leaders of various cause-oriented groups which are planning to stage demonstrations during the SONA for proper coordination. Aside from the leaders and representatives of the groups, also invited for the dialogue were officials of the Quezon City government, the Presidential Security Group (PSG), CHR, Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Department of Health (DOH).
According to Rosales, some cause-oriented groups and militant organizations have already applied for permits from the Quezon City government for the holding of demonstrations. Rosales said the NCRPO would be mobilizing its 9,000 personnel to main peace and order during the SONA which is traditionally marked by some militant groups with rallies depicting their own perception of the country’s state.
All police districts in Metro Manila would take part in the security preparatuions, said Rosales. P r e s i d e n t
Aquino will deliver his first SONA on the 26th of this month in time for the opening of the 15th Congress.