22K cops deployed for Marcos' SONA on July 22

Over 22,000 policemen will be deployed across various parts of the country to secure President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 22.

The deployment includes 17,971 officers from Metro Manila, 1,879 from regional police offices in Central Luzon and Calabarzon, and 2,771 from other government agencies.

Maj. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., the NCRPO chief and Task Force SONA commander, stated that sub-task groups will be formed led by five district directors to ensure security and medical assistance in coordination with public and private organizations.

An inter-agency coordination meeting among officials from the House of Representatives, the Office of the President, and the Senate was held in May to kickstart preparations for the SONA event.

Security measures will extend beyond the House of Representatives in Quezon City to include malls, churches, airports, seaports, and potential rally sites such as Chino Roces Bridge near Malacañang Palace and the EDSA Shrine.