Acorda: No threats monitored for SONA 2023 so far

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Police General Benjamin Acorda Jr. on Monday said they had not received any threats against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.'s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 24.

“With regards to threat assessment, wala tayong nare-receive na threat (we have not received a threat),” Acorda told reporters in a press conference.

Nevertheless, Acorda said the PNP would still prepare for the event as their personnel were expecting the worst and hoping for the best.

Around 23,000 PNP police officers, including force multipliers, would be deployed to ensure security during Marcos’ SONA, according to Acorda.

He said the PNP had been holding meetings within the organization and coordinating with concerned national agencies and local governments to prepare for the traffic management effort, crowd control, and other duties during the SONA.

Acorda had earlier appealed to protesters not to throw paint at cops during their activities during the SONA.

The police also promised to honor the permits issued to protesters by concerned local government units, adding that protesters would have designated areas to hold their program.

In June, the PNP started setting up security measures at the Batasang Pambansa Complex for the SONA.

The PNP prepared a mobile center with a military-grade drone capable of jamming signals and attacking unknown drones. — DVM, GMA Integrated News