5,000 cops to secure Aquino, Binay inaugural

Thousands of policemen and soldiers will be deployed in Metro Manila on June 30 to ensure peace and order during the inauguration of President-elect Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III and Vice President-elect Jejomar Binay. Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Jesus Verzosa on Thursday said 5,000 Metro Manila policemen will be securing the Quirino Grandstand in Manila where the inauguration will take place. Police from Central and Southern Luzon will also be deployed in the metropolis to beef up the security forces for the event, Verzosa said. “The presidential inaugural is not only a milestone in Philippine history, but more importantly, it's a symbol of the triumph of democracy thru the smooth transition of government authority to the incoming administration by way of an honest, orderly and peaceful elections," hea said in a statement. The airspace over Quirino Grandstand will be declared a “no fly zone" on inauguration day, while areas surrounding the venue will implement traffic re-routing scheme to ensure order in the area. Police forces will also be deployed to ensure public safety at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City where Aquino is set to hold his victory party after the inauguration. Police assistance desks will also be put up in both venues to provide help to those who will attend the events, according to PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina. Battalion-size troops — or more or less 300 soldiers — from the military’s National Capital Region Command (NCRcom), meanwhile, will be on stand-by in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City in case the police asks for assistance on June 30. “We are preparing for the smooth inauguration that will take place on June 30. We have battalion-size troops on standby to provide other security preparations for the inauguration in case the Philippine National Police will be needing our services," said Armed Forces spokesperson Lt. Col. Arnulfo Burgos in an interview on Thursday. Burgos likewise said that based on their intelligence reports, there is “no perceived threat" during the inauguration, but troops will still be on stand-by in case of any security threats. - KBK, GMANews.TV