Police's dance music drowns shouts from SONA protesters

MANILA, Philippines - Dance music blared fromthe Quzon City Police District's sound system as a huge protesting crowd marched along Commonwealth Avenue before President Aquino delivered his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Policemen deployed to secure the crowd outside the Batasan Pambansa Complex explained that they needed to hear lively music to keep them awake.

"Kanina pa po kaming umaga dito...panglaban sa antok at pagod," a policewoman said.

She said that the sound system was put by an official of the police district to keep the energy of the police personnel up.

The four speakers of the sound system drowned the sound emanating from the program of the protesters near the Ever-Gotesco mall along the avenue.

Aanti-riot policemen were stationed at the center island of the highway to prevent protesters from crossing to the west-bound lane of the highway and march toward the Batasan Pambansa Complex during Aquino's 5th SONA.

Last year, some protesters managed to cross the center island and ran toward the road leading to the congressional complex. They were, however, prevented by another layer of policemen near the st. Peter's church, which is just a few hundred meters from the complex.