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Friday, March 29, 2024

House primes for third SONA

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The House of Representatives is all set for the third State of the Nation Address of President Rodrigo Duterte on July 23, with security measures and program preparations in place, according to House officials.

National Capital Region Police Office Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar himself said in an interview with dzBB police had not received any security threat, adding “maximum tolerance” would be in place to enable anti-government and pro-government rallyists to express their views.

Replying to questions, Eleazar said “maximum tolerance” meant there would be no container vans to stop demonstrators along Commonwealth Avenue and no barbed wires either.

“All groups who want to express their sentiments are free to do so, with or without permit to stage rally. But the policy on applying for permit stands,” he added.

In a pre-Sona briefing during the weekend, House secretary-general, lawyer Cesar Pareja, chairman of the Sona 2018 Steering Committee, assured the House was prepared for any eventuality this year.

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“Just to assure you, based on what we have been doing before, we prepare for the worst but we expect the best. We hope for the best, but we are ready in case anything happens,” Pareja said.

Pareja said the House Secretariat and the Senate had been preparing and were now ready for the most anticipated annual event of Congress, the Sona and the opening of the Third Regular Session.

House Sergeant-at-Arms retired Lt. Gen. Roland Detabali said they were more prepared this year in securing the President and the First Family and the other VIPs. 

He said they had learned through the years on dealing with security problems and challenges.

In addition, Detabali said they were more confident the forces available to them, their equipment and experience in Marawi would benefit the forces on standby for the Sona.

Similarly, he said many partner agencies would also help in traffic control and other concerns connected with the Sona.

“We are confident that we will be more coordinated and sure to be very accessible to any of our stakeholders and our VIPs,” said Detabali.

Like last year, Detabali said the House security unit imposed a lockdown period, meaning three days before the Sona only those who have access to work in the House of Representatives to deliver supplies and work on the other facilities preparing for the Sona would be allowed access to the institution.

“And as I have said, we have more agencies, forces and equipment that can deal with any emergencies now. We are actually doing exercises so that we can deal with these problems,” said Detabali.

Moreover, still available are the equipment such as X-ray machines, K9 units and other equipment that are not only coming from Congress but also from different agencies which are contributing to the security aspect of the Sona preparations.

Detabali said: “We have more assets and available units, equipment and techniques. 

“These we’ve learned also from the experience in Marawi and we have other agencies which have developed their capability to deal with emerging problems especially on terrorism and sabotage. 

“But we do not see any of these happening. But just the same, we are preparing for these.”

On security preparations in case the President once again talks to rallyists, Detabali said they had been talking to the presidential units, especially to their officers, and for the sake of the President and the country, and urged them to advise him not to repeat what he did last year.

“But his heart goes to accepting these people not really agreeing to what he’s doing, so he might invite them—the leaders might be invited after the SSona [here in Congress]. That is what we are preparing. But of course, according to the police they are also preparing for anything,” said Detabali.

Meanwhile, Pareja said they had sent Vice President Leni Robredo an invitation. 

Right now, Pareja said they were preparing for her arrival with the usual protocol. 

“Now, if she declines later on, we can’t force her to go. But then I think, we already sent her invitation,” he said.

On the number of expected guests, Pareja said there were around 1,500 seats in the plenary hall, but then they added some seats, up to the maximum, which is another 1,500 seats.

“So we just doubled the number of seats, based on the limit allowed by our Bureau of Fire Protection. They do not want to crowd the area which could be hazardous also to our guests,” said Pareja.

There will be some changes in the program, according to Pareja. 

For instance, he said there were discussions that the singing of the National Anthem would be done by a choir from Tagum City, homeplace of Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez. 

He said the Speaker suggested the choir may be invited to depart from the usual practice and to showcase the local talents.

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