“Exaggerated?”
This was the comment of some Filipinos after seeing pictures of the police deployed on the streets for the third annual State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday.
The chief executive is expected to update Filipinos about the country’s current political, economic, and social conditions.
Marcos is scheduled to report his administration’s achievements in the past years and outline his visions, policies and key priorities of his administration for the country moving forward.
Ahead of the anticipated speech, reports said anti-riot police have gathered along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City to prepare for the protest rallies from various groups during the president’s SONA.
Philstar.com reported that shield-wielding police have formed a barricade near Matandang Balara along the highway hours before the main event.
Earlier this day, reports said demonstrators from the Bagong Alyansa Makabayan (Bayan) Southern Tagalog (ST) and other organizations gathered early along Commonwealth Avenue to assess the country’s economy, agriculture and labor sectors, among others, in their “People’s SONA.”
“Hanggang ngayon ay nananalaytay sa ating mga bansa ang mga sakit ng lipunan tulad ng imperyalismo, pyudalismo, at burukrata-kapitalismo,” Bayan ST spokesperson Kyle Salgado told the media.
“Taliwas ito sa mga huwad na pangako ni Marcos Jr. magmula ng mailuklok siya sa pwesto dalawang taon na ang nakararaan. Malinaw ang pagsandig ni Marcos Jr. sa paksyon ng US habang bahag naman ang buntot nito sa Tsina,” he added.
Their group burned effigies of Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte — who will skip the SONA for the first time — following the conclusion of their “People’s SONA.”
Their effigy, called “Pilas ng Pagniningas,” symbolized the “struggle of the Filipino people against the cycle of oppression and the culture of impunity,” among others.
Other concerns raised in various protest rallies on the streets include teachers’ wages, calls against the jeepney phaseout, issues in the food and agriculture sectors, fishermen’s protection in the West Philippine Sea, and today’s high cost of living.
Meanwhile, images of the Philippine National Police deployed along Commonwealth Avenue for the SONA drew flak from some Filipinos who thought their volume is an overkill.
“Over to the max,” a Facebook user commented.
“[Exaggerated] security,” another Pinoy wrote.
“Kalaban ‘yung taong bayan?” a different online user commented.
“Corruption ang kalaban, hindi kapwa mo kalaban mo,” wrote another Facebook user.
“They’re always OA [overreacting]. What a waste of resources and time. If only SONA can be done just by the television and social media,” a different Pinoy said.
“What! Parang marami pa ang mga police compare sa mga nagra-rally,” another Facebook user commented.
Others praised the security measures imposed for the event.
“Good Job! Protect our President!” a Filipino wrote.
“Salamat sa ating kapulisan sa kanilang dedikasyon na panatilihin ang katahimikan ngayong SONA,” another Facebook user said.
The PNP-Police Community Affairs and Development Group (PCADG) took notice of the post and wrote the following in the comments:
“Walang ibang hangad ang PNP sa ilalim ng liderato ni Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil kundi ang isang SONA 2024 na maayos at payapa.”
“Tungkulin ng PNP ang kaligtasan ng bawat mamamayan kaya magtulungan at kooperasyon ang hiling sa lahat upang maging matiwasay ang SONA ng ating Presidente.”
PNP Chief Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil said that they will observe maximum tolerance during the SONA but with a “limit.”
“We follow maximum tolerance pero may limit. ‘Yan ang guidance ko. Never again na sasaktan ang pulis na basta-basta,” he said.
Marbil said the police will file a case if an officer gets hurt in managing the protests.
The top cop previously said around 22,000 police will be deployed to secure the SONA.
Last week, Duterte created a buzz when she called herself the “designated survivor” when asked about her attendance at the annual event.
Rep. Joel Chua (Manila, Third District) had cautioned her against making such comments as “the security of the President of the Philippines is not a joking or laughing matter.”
Duterte explained that her remarks were neither a joke nor a threat.
The SONA is a high-security event, as lawmakers from the upper and lower chambers converge in the Batasang Pambansa Complex to open the joint session and hear the president deliver his speech about the nation.
Government officials, diplomats and dignitaries are also present in the occassion.
The event is where the chief executive updates the nation about its current political, economic and social conditions.
