SONA protesters kept at bay at Ever Gotesco by 6 layers of barriers, cops
Police use water cannons at protests in Commonwealth. Frances Mangosing/黑料社
MANILA, Philippines—Six layers of barriers, including phalanxes of anti-riot policemen, along the Fairview-bound side of Commonwealth Avenue confined State of the Nation Address (SONA) protesters in front of the Ever Gotesco Mall.
It was only the authorities’ first line of defense along the major thoroughfare leading to the Batasan Complex.
The first layer was made up of concrete barriers with elevated steel bars on top; the second, steel bars looped with cyclone wires; the third, another set of concrete barriers; and the fourth, plain steel bars, all spanning the eight lanes of the Fairview-bound side of Commonwealth Avenue.
The fifth barriers were the PNP’s civil disturbance management contingents from the Quezon City Police District augmented by the National Police District Police Office. The human barriers were in full gear: helmets, armors, shields and batons.
Four massive steel containers composed the sixth layer of barriers. A fifth container was placed on standby, tied to a lift, to completely seal Commonwealth Avenue should the protesters break through the first five barriers.
At least three Bureau of Fire Protection trucks were parked close to the containers for contingency.
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