THE Philippine National Police will implement a three-day total gun ban in the National Capital Region (NCR) in relation to security preparations for the third State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
According to the Permit to Carry Firearms Outside of Residence (PTCFOR) Secretariat, the gun ban will start on Saturday and end at midnight on Monday, July 22, 2024.
“In accordance with the upcoming 3rd SONA 2024 of His Excellency President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, Jr., it has been announced that the PTCFOR will be suspended from 12:01 AM of July 20, 2024, until 12:00 MN of July 22, 2024 in NCR only,” the official statement said.
“This suspension is a precautionary measure to ensure public safety and security during the event,” added the PTCFOR Secretariat.
Initially, the PTCFOR Secretariat announced a nationwide gun ban effective only on July 22, but it was decided to extend it.
Nearly 22,000 police officers will be deployed for SONA, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP), in addition to the forces allocated by the Armed Forces of the Philippine-Joint Task Force NCR and standby augmentation from the three major service commands of the military.
“We see around 22,000 deployed last time, the same number. Unless we see threats, there will be more,” said PNP chief Police General Rommel Marbil.
“Right now, we don’t see any threats, but what I’m saying is, my go signal, of course, you have to consider the inconvenience,” he added.
It is expected that militant groups will launch massive protests during the SONA, including the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan).
Marbil stated that the PNP will exercise maximum tolerance towards the protesters but appealed to them not to disrupt the public.
Meanwhile, the PNP clarified that they have intensified security nationwide, not just in Metro Manila, for general peace and order. It is said to have no relation to the recent study by Forbes Advisory, which identified Manila as having a high crime rate and being one of the riskiest cities.
It was reported that the PNP coordinated with Police Brigadier General Arnold Thomas Ibay, the Director of the Manila Police District, after the Forbes Advisory was released, which included Manila in the list of “riskiest cities” for foreign tourists.”
