THE Philippine National Police (PNP) said Friday that they had not detected any security threats for the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
President Marcos Jr. is set to deliver his 3rd SONA on July 22.
According to PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, the PNP is still making refinements on traffic management plans to minimize inconvenience to the public.
“As for the SONA, we haven’t received any threats, but remember, commuters will get mad because of the traffic inconvenience due to heightened security,” said Marbil in Filipino, after serving as the special guest of the 2nd PNP Press Corps Invitational Shootfest in Camp Karingal, Quezon City.
“We are studying measures to ease vehicular traffic after the SONA for the comfort of commuters and motorists in going home.”
Also, he said that there would be designated areas for protests.
“The same, maximum tolerance policy will be enforced. There is nothing to worry about, there is no problem, but what I said is they can go on with their protests but make sure they don’t cause inconvenience,” he added.
“It’s the public who is burdened here. It’s a problem created by both the rallyists and the excessive deployment of security forces.”
Under Article 7, Section 23 of the Constitution, the President is required to “address the Congress at the opening of its regular session.”
The SONA is being done every year, on the last Monday of July.
The President is expected to give a detailed report on the state of the nation, and will call to task Congress.
Meanwhile, Marbil directed police officers to minimize the inconvenience caused by checkpoints.
Marbil also cleared up misinformation that they are only singling out motorcycle riders.
“I guess it’s more of our concern about traffic congestion, that is why we have checkpoints for both cars and motorcycles,” he said.
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