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13T cops, soldiers gird for SONA protests ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY RUBY P. SILUBRICO
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ILOILO City – Those wanting to stage rallies today as President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) must secure permits, according to the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO).
At least two cause-oriented groups have so far secured permits, according to Senior Superintendent Remus Zacharias Canieso, city police director.
The leaders of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan – Panay and Alab Katipunan were told to make sure their rallies were non-violent, he added.
“We are strictly imposing the ‘no permit, no rally policy’ and the rallies must be peaceful,” stressed Canieso.
ICPO will be mobilizing its Civil Disturbance Management unit to maintain peace and order in the city.
“For us the progressives, we will have the ‘SONA sang Pumuluyo’ (SONA of the People) that will highlight our one-year assessment of the Duterte regime,” said Elmer Forro, secretary-general of Bayan-Panay.
The SONA sang Pumuluyo will be held at the Freedom Grandstand from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Prior to this, cultural group AMBON will hold a “Konsiyerto sang Pagbag-o” (Concert for Change).
“Extrajudicial killings escalated, drug-related and political ones. Three farmers have been killed in Panay Island because of intensifying militarization and struggle for agrarian reform,” said Forro.
At 3 p.m. after the “SONA sang Pumuluyo”, participants will march to the Museo Iloilo where they will disperse.
“Nothing substantial has changed under the Duterte regime. The same neoliberal policies of deregulation, privatization, liberalization, and denationalization are being implemented. Issues such as labor contractualization, non-living wage, inaccessible education, and agrarian reform, among others, are still here,” said Forro.
Across Western Visayas, the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are marshalling a combined 13,000 policemen and soldiers.
“We expect a peaceful Region 6 during the SONA but we are also prepared for any security challenges,” said Superintendent Gilbert Gorero, PRO-6 spokesperson.
The police and military placed their forces on full red alert status last week yet for today’s SONA. City and municipal police stations were directed to set up checkpoints and post security forces in places of convergence among others.
The PRO-6 has also opened two contact numbers through which the public can course their security concerns – 09498833741 (Smart) and 09175943753 (Globe).
“The declaration of martial law in Mindanao and the President’s request to extend it by end of 2017 will not resolve the terrorism issue there but will only escalated it, targeting even progressive and other revolutionary forces,” said Forro.
According to Gorero, the PRO-6 has not monitored threats to the region but “it’s better to be safe than sorry. Region 6 is a peaceful place but we don’t want to be complacent. We appeal to the public to cooperate with us.”/PN
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