The newly activated Standing Joint Task Force-National Capital Region (SJTF-NCR) is allotting at least 400 anti-riot soldiers for possible deployment during the upcoming State of the Nation Address (Sona) of President Aquino on July 23 at the House of Representatives.
Maj. Warden Zamora Jr., SJTF-NCR spokesman, said the soldiers — composed of civil disturbance management (CDM) units from the Army, Navy, Air Force and the General Headquarters (GHQ) at Camp Aguinaldo — will act in support of the National Capital Region Police Office.
“Each of the major service commands — the Philippine Army, the Navy and the Air Force, and the GHQ will be dispatching 100 soldiers each as standby force,” Zamora said.
“We are ready for any eventuality. We’re just awaiting request from the Philippine National Police,” Zamora added.
Zamora, however, stressed that the SJTF-NCR has not monitored any threat against the third Sona of President Aquino.
“There is none…our intelligence gathering is continuous,” Zamora said.
Zamora added the NCR troops will be prepositioned to Camp Aguinaldo ready for immediate deployment, if necessary.
“If deployed, our CDM units will exercise maximum tolerance,”  Zamora said.
Militant and various cause-oriented groups are expected to stage demonstrations during the Sona.
The SJTF-NCR is the newly activated anti-coup unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, taking the functions of the defunct NCR Command which was officially deactivated yesterday.
Air Force Col. Manuel Ramero is the acting commander of SJTF-NCR being the last deputy commander of the NCR Command.