The gun ban in the National Capital Region (NCR) in light of the third State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has been expanded to three days.
The Permit to Carry Firearms Outside of Residence (PTCFOR) Secretariat said that the ban will start on Saturday and will end at midnight on 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,” it said.
“This suspension is a precautionary measure to ensure public safety and security during the event,” it added.
Before the adjustment, the PTCFOR Secretariat initially announced a nationwide gun ban effective only on July 22.
Around 22,000 police personnel will be deployed to secure the SONA, the Philippine National Police (PNP) earlier said.
“Ang nakikita po natin last time po mga 22,000 na-deploy, ganun pa rin po. Unless we see may mga threats po, there will be more,” PNP chief Police General Rommel Marbil said.
(What we saw last time was about 22,000 deployed, it’s still the same. Unless we see some threats, there will be more deployment.)
“Right now, we don’t see any threats but ang sinasabi ko, go signal ko, of course, you have to see yung inconvenience (but what I am saying is we should look at possible inconveniences),” he added.
Progressive groups will march and engage in protest activities during Marcos’ SONA, according to Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan).
Marbil said the PNP will provide maximum tolerance to the protesters but he appealed to them to make sure not to cause any inconveniences to the public.
Marcos earlier instructed the House of Representatives to accommodate everyone who wants to attend the SONA.
With the seating capacity of the session hall limited to 2,000, the House of Representatives said it will add seats and open several function rooms to accommodate additional guests.
As a security measure, the Batasang Pambansa will be locked down starting July 19. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
