Anti-riot police to undergo HR training for SONA

MANILA, Philippines – As the government gears up to face protesters once again when President Arroyo delivers her State of the Nation Address (SONA), anti-riot policemen will undergo a one-day seminar and training on human rights in an effort to prove that they are not violators of civil liberties.

Metro Manila Police chief Director Geary Barias said the daylong seminar and training will be held five days before the President’s eighth SONA on July 28.

It will be conducted by representatives from the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) led by chairman Leila de Lima.

“This (program) should convince protesters that the police are taking human rights seriously,” said Barias in a press conference yesterday. “It will only be a one-day seminar or probably half day for members of the National Capital Regional Police Office who will be deployed for the SONA. Hopefully they will be reminded on how they should act and will not violate basic human rights.”

Despite upcoming protest actions, defense and military officials do not see any security threat that could mar the President’s SONA. Still, government forces are staying vigilant.

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said he has not received information about any threats to the SONA even those that might come from rightist groups that could attempt to grab power from the government.

“I don’t see any threats but we continue to be vigilant about it,” Teodoro said.

The Metro Manila police chief said he expects the scheduled SONA to be peaceful.

“In my personal assessment, we would not face any problem in the absence of major issues, except rise in fuel, prime commodities like rice, which are not within the control of the Philippine government,” Barias said.

At least 6,000 policemen and soldiers would be deployed to secure strategic areas like the House of Representatives at the Batasan complex in Quezon City where the President will deliver her SONA, and within and around Malacañang.

Of the 6,000 members of the Civil Disturbance Management (CDM), Barias said some 1,700 anti-riot cops will be deployed in Mendiola near Malacañang and other areas in Manila including Plaza Miranda, Liwasang Bonifacio, Bustillos, Solana, Casal, Roces, JP Laurel, San Rafael/Legarda streets, C.N. Recto, and the US Embassy.

Barias added that some 500 policemen will be fielded at the Edsa Shrine and 3,000 other lawmen will be in Quezon City. Anti-riot policemen will also be deployed in the areas of the Senate and the Philippine International Convention Center.

Barias said the police would also secure vital private and government installations like the Pandacan oil depot, Metro Rail Transit and Light Railway Transit stations as well as shopping malls and other commercial establishments.

Like in past protests, Barias is seeking a dialogue with leaders of militant groups to establish the ground rules for peaceful rallies outside the Batasan.

Militant groups, meanwhile, are already “giddy” gearing up for their protests, saying they expect the President to hold a “festival of lies” on the economy when she delivers her SONA.

Renato Reyes Jr., secretary-general of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), an umbrella group of various activist organizations, said the “economic crisis” is a crucial theme in this year’s SONA protests.

This early, he debunked the “rosy claims” on the economy expected in the SONA. – With James Mananghaya, Katherine Adraneda