APCs recalled as PNP gets ready for SONA

The Philippine National Police recently recalled to Metro Manila all armored personnel carriers (APCs) as part of reported security preparations to prevent violent protests actions in the State of Nation Address (SONA) that will be delivered by President Arroyo at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City on July 23.

Officials said that 20 V-150 APCs assigned to police regional offices in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao are now parked at the PNP Special Action Force (SAF) headquarters at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig.

“All regional police commanders were ordered to turn in all the serviceable APCs to Manila for regular maintenance check,” a police source said.

Some police commanders claimed they were puzzled over the recall order for the armored carriers two weeks ago to be brought to Manila for regular maintenance because the APCs are fully operational and functioning well.

A police official admitted that the PNP needs the APCs in Metro Manila in the coming days to secure the metropolis during the President’s SONA and also the forthcoming promulgation of deposed President Joseph Estrada’s plunder case which could spark massive protests from the opposition camp.

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) announced yesterday the guidelines on the overall security coverage of the President’s SONA.

A security plan in Metro Manila dubbed Task Force Kapayapaan is intended to address violent protest actions during the opening of the 14th Congress.

PNP chief Director General Oscar Calderon ordered NCRPO Deputy Director General Reynaldo Varilla to prepare contingency measures to contain any violent incidents when President Arroyo delivers her SONA at the opening of the first regular session of the 14th Congress on July 23.

Calderon ordered the district directors to conduct dialogues with leaders of militant groups to ensure peaceful rallies during the SONA.

“Traditional, large protest rallies and demonstrations by various cause-oriented groups are staged during the SONA of President Arroyo. This situation may be further aggravated by contributory factors like the debate on

the Human Security Act of 2007 or the anti-terrorism law and the possibility of the Sandiganbayan’s ruling on the plunder case of Estrada coming out before the SONA,” Calderon said in a press statement.

He also said that it is not remote that various threat groups, terrorists and criminal elements may take advantage of the situation to carry out disruptive activities that may endanger the lives of the public.