NCRPO ready if Duterte meets protesters after SONA

July 17, 2019

The National Capital Region Police Office ( NCRPO) on Wednesday said they are prepared if President Rodrigo Duterte will face protesters outside the House of Representative on Monday. 

Police Major General Guillermo Eleazar said they have prepared contingency plan if Duterte will go out and talk to the protesters on his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA).

"We are ready for such. We have prepared a contingency for that and we coordinate with the PSG (Presidential Security Group)," he said. 

During his second SONA last 2017, Duterte faced protesters outside the House of Representatives. While surrounded by his security, he spent more than ten minutes to talk to them.

Eleazar said it will not be a surprise if Duterte decides to do it again.

"He already did that last time so we prepared for it. Two years ago in 2017 we were really surprised because that was unexpected but after that we started preparing for contingency just in case that kind of scenario will happen again," he explained. 

Eleazar said it will be better if Duterte will not do it on Monday. 

"Security wise, it's challenging for us if he will still go near (the protesters)... but if you will ask us, it is better if he won't go outside (due to) security concerns," he explained. 

The NCRPO director said they are expecting about 15,000 protesters on Monday. Cristina Eloisa Baclig/DMS