Philippines, Manila — The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) were put on full alert on Friday as protests against claimed problems with flood control projects extended across Metro Manila.
Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin, head of the NCRPO, said that all police officers’ vacation leaves had been canceled and that they had to report in every four hours to make sure they were ready to go right away.
“Our units are on high alert and ready to protect both the protesters and the general public.” Aberin told reporters, “There are security measures in place to stop fights, vandalism, and traffic problems while also protecting everyone’s rights.”
He told the demonstrators to use their rights wisely. “We respect every Filipino’s freedom to gather and speak out about their problems. “But these rights must be used peacefully and without endangering public safety or disturbing communities,” he warned.
“Maximum Tolerance”
Aberin said that NCRPO staff have been told to be as tolerant as possible and only step in when they need to to execute the law. “We want everyone who is taking part to follow the law and be disciplined. He said, “The public should also stay alert, avoid rally sites when possible, and work with the authorities to keep everyone safe.”
Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuano, head of the PNP Public Information Office, said the same thing, adding that officers have been told to stay unarmed and not use aggressive methods.
“The President, the Interior Secretary, and our PNP Chief have all said the same thing: use common sense, listen to the complaints of our people, and don’t carry truncheons or batons.” “We will be as tolerant as possible, but we will not put up with breaking the law,” Tuano stated.
He mentioned Batas Pambansa 880, which makes it illegal to carry firearms or vandalize property during public gatherings. He also said that officials are looking into whether wearing masks to hide one’s identity may also be against the law.
“Common sense says that the limit of maximal tolerance is. He went on to say, “We will protect everyone—protesters, drivers, and bystanders—while stopping crime, vandalism, and traffic jams.”
Watching Small Rallies
Police Maj. Hazel Asilo, a spokesperson for the NCRPO, said that at least eight small protests were watched on Friday morning. One of them was a short rally outside the House of Representatives that lasted 30 minutes.
“They didn’t seem to have a permission for the rally, which might be why they left so swiftly. Their leaders made demands such stopping the commercialization of public services and opposing the effort to send workers abroad. Asilo remarked, “So far, we don’t see any signs of widespread unrest.”
Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., the acting head of the PNP, told the public that the national police force has a plan for keeping people safe. He said, “We are keeping a close eye on the situation and are ready to break up the crowd, manage it, and keep everyone safe.”
