Over 21,000 security forces to be deployed for Marcos' first SONA

More than 21,000 security forces will be deployed for the first State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on July 25, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said Saturday.

The total personnel deployment will reach roughly 21,853, an increase over the 15,174 earlier planned.

This will be broken down into 16,964 from the NCRPO, 1,905 from Philippine National Police (PNP) support units, and 2,974 from coordinating agencies and other peacekeeping partners.

The personnel deployment was discussed during the 1st Inter-Agency Coordination Meeting held Friday in Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City and led by NCRPO Regional Director Police Major General Felipe Natividad.

It was attended by representatives from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, local government units, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, force multipliers, volunteer groups, and other concerned agencies.

Earlier, the PNP said a gun ban will be imposed in Metro Manila from July 22 to July 27 to secure the first SONA of Marcos.

Meanwhile, the MMDA said it will implement road rerouting to keep portions of Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City free for essential vehicles heading to and from the Batasang Pambansa, venue of the SONA. —KG, GMA News