PNP says protests during SONA peaceful

July 23, 2019

The Philippine National Police ( PNP) on Tuesday said protests conducted during President Rodrigo Duterte’s State of the Nation Address ( SONA) ended peacefully.

“I am pleased to take note that all mass actions carried out by cause-oriented groups and some pro-government organizations ended peacefully with no major untoward incident reported in all areas of engagement,” Police General Oscar Albayalde said in a press briefing.

Albayalde also commended the 14,000-strong PNP security contingent deployed around the Batasang Pambansa complex as well as heads of other government agencies and local government officials involved in traffic management, emergency response and mobilization of force multipliers.

“The peaceful and orderly SONA allowed our people to connect and sync thoughts with the national government through this annual review of achievements, statement of the present situation and announcement of future prospects for our country and people,” he said.

However, Albayalde advised rallyists not to occupy too much lanes next time to prevent traffic as this became the PNP's problem.

“We would like to encourage and ask the militant groups that if they are not huge in number, they should stay at one or three lanes in the northbound of Commonwealth,” he said.

“The problem is for cinematic effect they will really occupy the whole (lane) so our people are getting pissed,” he added.

Albayalde said traffic congestion due to protesters is the comment of motorists every year.

“We can do what we have to do but not necessarily giving inconvenience to our people especially to the motorists,” he said.

According to the PNP chief, the National Operations Center reported generally peaceful and orderly situation throughout the country, especially along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City leading to the Batasang Pambansa Complex.

The complex was the center of activities where between 5,000 to 6,000 participants converged from different points in Metro Manila.

“Let me also congratulate the leaders and organizers of these cause-oriented groups for keeping their word by coordinating all their actions with security personnel on the ground that resulted in smooth and uneventful outcome of activities,” said Albayalde.



“Across the country, similarly peaceful and orderly mass actions were held in some key cities across the country, likewise with no major untoward incident reported,” he added. Ella Dionisio/DMS