Law enforcement forces across Metro Manila will be placed on full alert starting midnight on Saturday, September 19, to maintain order ahead of planned demonstrations on September 21, the Philippine National Police (PNP) announced.
During a media briefing at Camp Crame, PNP spokesperson Col. Allen Rae Co stated that authorities have already pinpointed key rally sites and outlined security details to oversee public safety and crowd control.
“The full alert status will start 12 midnight on September 19, Saturday, and full deployment will be done by the afternoon of Saturday at 5 p.m,” Co said.
“So we will be deploying more than 15,700 personnel and the instruction is that all security personnel will not be carrying their firearms. Our body-worn cameras will be used for the said security operations,” he added.
September 21 marks the annual commemoration of the 1972 Martial Law declaration by former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. Authorities anticipate higher turnout this year due to heightened political tensions surrounding the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, which critics attribute to allies of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Security personnel are particularly focused on preventing a repeat of last year’s September 21 violence, where a youth faction set vehicles ablaze and clashed with officers along routes leading to the presidential palace. Subsequent police investigations indicated an intent to storm Malacañang.
In response, police forces are establishing checkpoints and barriers along all roads leading to the palace compound.
“We have contingency plans in place. We do not see any specific threats as of now but we are continuously monitoring the situation. If we receive information, we would verify validate and act if need to,” Co stated.
The PNP spokesperson urged rally organizers to maintain order within their ranks and prevent violent clashes with law enforcement.
“The PNP respects everyone’s rights to peacefully assemble but what we want to remind the people that their constitutional protection ends when another person’s rights are violated,” Co added.