Police expecting 15,000 protesters during Duterte’s address

July 15, 2019

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Monday said they are expecting around 15, 000 protesters for President Rodrigo Duterte's State of the Nation Address ( SONA) on July 22.

"They want to have an impact. They will all be in Commonwealth," Major General Guillermo Eleazar said in a chance interview with reporters.

  This number combines pro and anti Duterte groups, police added. 

Eleazar said they met with these groups, who agreed where they will stage their protest in Quezon City.

"We had a dialogue with them. Asked them where they want to do their protest and agreed on what they want," he said.

Eleazar said for three years, they always had an agreement with the protesters on where they want to stage their protest.

He said just like last year, rallyists can still built their own stage.

  "We will facilitate, assist them in constructing (and) installing that stage," he said.

Aside from Quezon City, police are expecting protests in some areas like Manila and Makati City.

The NCRPO chief urged protest leaders to discourage their members from bringing bags and jackets.

"We are giving them what they want so to show good faith they should be discouraged in bringing bags and jackets," said Eleazar.

  "We cannot check the belongings of everyone," he added.

  Eleazar said it's a disadvantage for protesters if they will include a suicide bomber during SONA. "They will be the one affected," he said.

  In a press briefing, Police General Oscar Albayalde said they are set to have a final meeting within this week to finalize security for the SONA.

  The PNOP chief said they are set to deploy around 14,000 personnel.

In terms of threats, Albayalde said they have not received any report but they will tighten security after it was confirmed a suicide bomber involved in explosions in a military camp in Sulu last month was a Filipino.

"As I have said earlier, the playing field will change because we have a first time incident. We will have a lot of innovations, interventions to do to prevent it from happening (again)... especially so this time of SONA," said Albayalde. Ella Dionisio/DMS