AFP raises red alert status in Metro amid Duterte’s 1st SONA

              PHOTO: Boy Gonzales | by Rita Salonga   and Florante Rosales               

Manila, Philippines - The red alert status in Metro Manila has been raised starting midnight of Monday amid the scheduled first State of the Nation Address of President Rodrigo Duterte at the Batasan Pambansa Complex.

According to Col. Vic Tomas, acting Commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Joint Task Force-National Capital Region Command, it is only normal for the AFP to raise the red alert status because they don’t want to remain confident with their prepared security measures for President Duterte and the rest of the attendees this afternoon at the House of Representatives.

Though Duterte insisted of not over the top security measures, Col. Tomas said that it is only a routine for the AFP to implement such status.

In line with this, Col. Tomas said that they have yet to monitor any threat against the life of the president for today’s event.

However, the AFP official said that they will not change anything from their already planned safety precautions in the Batasan Complex, but promises that it will not be an overkill.
Meanwhile, authorities and rallyists have settled an agreement that all protests for today’s SONA will be peaceful.