PRO3 SENDS OVER 400 COPS FOR PBBM’S SONA

BY KEVIN GALANG

CAMP OLIVAS, City of San Fernando, Pampanga – The Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) has deployed 412 police personnel for today’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr..

PRO3 director Brig. Gen. Jose Hidalgo Jr. said the  deployment was to ensure peace and order and public safety at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon.

Hidalgo said the 412 augmentation troops from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion and the different provincial and city police offices – except Aurora and Zambales – will be placed on stand-by and ready on call starting July 21 for Civil Disturbance Management (CDM) operation.

Aside from the augmentation troops, Reactionary Standby Support Group composed of 875 PNP personnel from all provincial and city police offices is also on stand-by position in their respective units ready to be deployed on orders as needed.

An intensified anti-crime and focused police operations, including checkpoints, are being undertaken by all police units in the region to prevent any untoward incident during the event.

According to Hidalgo, the PRO3 has been sending augmentation troops during SONA and other national events as part of the overall security preparations of the PNP to guarantee peace and order. 

“Our personnel are reminded to observe ‘maximum tolerance’ and to ensure they respect the human rights of protesters as they are again expected to hold rallies when the President delivers his 3rd  SONA,” Hidalgo said.

“I have also ordered for the intensified conduct of checkpoint operations, particularly along major thoroughfares, to ensure the maintenance of peace and order during the event,” he added.

The PNP was placed under full alert status since July 20 and will remain in effect pending the outcome of today’s national event. 

All permits to carry firearms outside of residence (PTCFOR) in the National Capital Region (NCR) have been suspended from July 20 until  July 22 as part of the PNP’s security measure.