Western Visayas deploys 4,826 for Marcos SONA

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Almost 5,000 police personnel and force multipliers will be deployed across Western Visayas for President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address on July 27.

The Police Regional Office 6 said Friday that it had finalized security preparations several days before the event.

The deployment of 4,826 personnel and force multipliers is intended to ensure a safe, peaceful, and orderly SONA, PRO-6 said in a statement.

The security contingent will consist of 3,905 Philippine National Police personnel.

Another 117 augmentation personnel will come from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard, and Bureau of Fire Protection.

The deployment will also include 804 force multipliers from advocacy groups and community volunteer organizations.

The personnel will conduct intensified police visibility operations, foot and mobile patrols, traffic management, medical response, and checkpoint and border control operations in identified strategic areas.

They will also perform civil disturbance management duties.

Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño, Western Visayas police chief, said quick reaction teams and the Reactionary Standby Support Force will be placed on standby.

Tuaño said police will also secure freedom parks, public assembly areas, and other places where groups are expected to gather for mass actions.

He clarified that the police force’s main goal is to maintain peace and order, protect the public, and respect people’s rights.

Tuaño reminded the public that although the right to freedom of expression is respected, assemblies and other public activities must remain peaceful, lawful, and mindful of public order.

“Ganap nang nakahanda ang PRO6 upang matiyak ang ligtas at mapayapang SONA 2026. Inatasan natin ang lahat ng ating tauhan na manatiling alerto, disiplinado, propesyonal, at handang tumugon sa anumang sitwasyon. Ang kaligtasan at seguridad ng publiko ang ating pangunahing prayoridad,” Tuaño said.

PRO-6 said it is actively monitoring potential threats and continuously strengthening security measures to protect the public.

Marcos’ July 27 address will be his fifth SONA and the penultimate annual address of his six-year term. (

The SONA is delivered before a joint session of Congress and typically outlines the administration’s accomplishments, policy priorities, and proposed legislative agenda.