Eight days before President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), the Philippine National Police (PNP) finalized its security preparations and deployed more than 20,000 personnel to help ensure the safe, orderly, and peaceful conduct of the event. Personnel from Police Regional Offices 1, 2, 3, 4A, and the Cordillera Administrative Region, along with the National Headquarters Reactionary Standby Support Force, served as augmentation forces for the National Capital Region Police Office.
The proactive deployment reflected the PNP’s dual objective of securing the SONA while ensuring that police services remained uninterrupted throughout the country, particularly across Metro Manila. Notably, 5,904 personnel were designated to sustain anti-criminality and other police operations, ensuring continuous police visibility, crime prevention, and emergency response even as security measures for the SONA were intensified. Meanwhile, 2,345 personnel were assigned to the House of Representatives, which served as the main venue of the President’s address.
Additional personnel were also strategically positioned in designated staging areas, major thoroughfares, transport hubs, border control points, law enforcement checkpoints, emergency response units, public assistance stations, and other key convergence areas to maintain public order, facilitate traffic management, and provide immediate assistance before, during, and after the event.
The security preparations were carried out in line with the PNP Focused Agenda, particularly under Enhanced Managing Police Operations, which strengthens intelligence-driven planning, inter-agency coordination, and proactive police presence during major national events while ensuring that the constitutional rights of all individuals are respected.
Police General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr., Chief, PNP, assured the public that the organization was fully prepared to carry out its mandate with professionalism, discipline, and respect for the rights of every Filipino.
On July 27, 2026, the PNP Top Command conducted a physical inspection of the Multi-Agency Coordination Center (MACC) at the Hinirang Social Hall in Camp Karingal, Quezon City, to assess the readiness of the entire security force deployed for the 5th SONA. The inspection also covered security deployments at the EDSA People Power Monument and other Security Task Unit (STU) deployment areas along Commonwealth Avenue.
Following the inspections, PGen Nartatez proceeded to the House of Representatives at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City to attend the opening of the 5th Regular Session of the 20th Congress and the 5th SONA.
At 4:00 PM, His Excellency President Marcos began delivering his fifth address to the nation, where he called for collective belief in the unity and indivisibility of the Filipino nation amid its diversity.
“Our unity and collective consciousness are challenged now greater than ever before. A common threat lies before us, directed against our dignity and self-respect. Of late, our very humanity has been called into question… Filipinos are a noble, kind, gracious, and great race. We are not greedy. We are not racists. We are not liars. We are respectful and dignified. We are Filipinos, and we do not yield,” said the President.
“Mga kapwa kong Pilipino, sa ganitong mga banta sa ating seguridad, sa loob at sa labas ng bansa, tayo’y tumindig nang taas-noo at magkapit-bisig. Dahil tayo man ay magkaiba sa maraming bagay, iisa lang tayong lahi. Tayong lahat ay Pilipino. Pilipino sa diwa; Pilipino sa dugo. Manaig nawa ang pagkakaisa at ang pagmamahal natin sa Inang Bayan at sa kapwa Pilipino,” he added.
At 5:31 in the afternoon, the President’s 5th SONA concluded peacefully, with no major untoward incidents reported nationwide.
From the implementation of security measures to the conclusion of the President’s address, the Nation’s Peacekeepers ensured the safety of the Chief Executive, government officials, delegates, and the general public while respecting the constitutional rights of individuals and groups to peacefully assemble and express their views.
During the event, the PNP monitored two major public assemblies held along Commonwealth Avenue and in front of the Sandiganbayan and the Commission on Audit in Quezon City, with an estimated combined crowd of around 6,000 participants. While both activities were generally peaceful, isolated incidents were recorded in some areas. This resulted in the arrest of 39 individuals for alleged violations of the Quezon City Anti-Vandalism Ordinance, Presidential Decree No. 1829, and the Revised Penal Code provisions related to resistance or disobedience to persons in authority and disturbance of public order. The situations were promptly addressed by personnel on the ground, preventing any significant disruption to the overall security environment.
“Nagpapasalamat tayo sa ating mga kababayan na nakiisa sa pagpapanatili ng kaayusan habang iginagalang ang karapatan ng bawat isa na ipahayag ang kanilang saloobin nang mapayapa… Sa ating mga kapulisan, ipinakita ninyo ang disiplina at dedikasyon sa pagtupad ng inyong tungkulin. Patuloy nating paninindigan ang patas na pagpapatupad ng batas nang may paggalang sa karapatang pantao at sa dignidad ng bawat tao,” said PGen Nartatez.
