The National Capital Region Police Office will use high-tech drones and mobile command centers to ensure security during the second State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
According to NCRPO Chief Police Major General Edgar Alan Okubo, the modern drones and equipment in the mobile command center can disable other unidentified drones that flew in the no-fly zone in Batasan on July 24. The drones are artificial intelligence-powered, integrated with the Police Collaborations and Operations Management System, and with automatic target tracking.
“These drones have capability to counter drones also…Disabled, meaning, hindi na siya ma-control ng kung sino ang nagpapalipad,” he said.
“Drones nowadays have many capabilities, pwede ma-attach-an ‘yan ng explosives. So for security purposes, no fly zone tayo sa araw ng ng SONA,” added Okubo.
He said the high-resolution camera in the drones used in SONA also has facial recognition. It can be used to determine if there is someone in the area who is on the wanted list of the police or possibly even those who have an INTERPOL record.
But the NCRPO chief assured that it would not be used for profiling. Okubo said he had reminded the policemen deployed in SONA regarding maximum tolerance for rallyists.
PNP to use drones and mobile command center in SONA
Okubo explained that the mobile command center and drones are essential for real-time police monitoring of situations in the path of President Marcos Jr.
“Hindi armado ‘yung drones na gagamitin natin dito,” he said.
“Ang function ng drone is for monitoring and to estimate the number of rallyists to monitor if there will be sudden changes, or problem on the group of rallyists for us to fit in more augmentation or support not only for our troops, but also for rallyists. Kung may nasaktan, we also have medical to assist rallyists,” added Okubo.
“There will be no profiling of course, this is just for monitoring of this event and for assisting and deciding for immediate actions kung ano ang kailangan,” he assured.
The NCRPO showed the sergeant-at-arms of the House Thursday afternoon the mobile command center and the drones that will be used in the SONA.
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