The Philippine National Police (PNP) has urged demonstrators and the general public to accord police personnel due respect as they uphold peace and order during public gatherings and demonstrations.
PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. affirmed that the law enforcement agency completely respects the public’s right to peaceful assembly, recognizing that various sectors have distinct roles to play in society.
However, he stressed that exercising these democratic rights must not translate into abuse or contempt toward uniformed officers.
Nartatez asserted that police personnel performing their official duties should never be subjected to physical assaults or verbal abuse.
“Just like everybody, your police have a job to do, an order to comply with, and a mandate to perform. Any form of disrespect to our personnel on the ground is an attack to our uniform, to our badge, and to the PNP as an organization,” said Nartatez.
“We are not asking for too much, we are merely asking for respect in recognition of the sacrifices of our men on the ground,” he stressed.
The PNP head’s statements follow a Wednesday, July 22 incident involving media workers during a dispersal operation against demonstrators gathered in a restricted zone near foreign delegates.
PNP spokesperson Col. Allen Rae Co noted that a photojournalist involved allegedly uttered “unsavory remarks because of the heat of the moment.”
Nartatez explained that as the host nation for the international assembly, the government was obligated to guarantee the security of foreign visitors. He noted that ground officers were explicitly directed to secure the perimeter as part of elevated safety protocols, adding that personnel struggled to separate protesters from onlookers while clearing the restricted area.
Despite the confrontation, Nartatez stated that the PNP is fully receptive to any probe to determine the complete context of the event. Co separately verified that a formal investigation into the matter is already ongoing.
The development unfolds as the PNP finalizes its security deployment for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s upcoming State of the Nation Address on Monday, with over 21,000 officers scheduled to secure the Batasang Pambansa complex and nearby areas in Quezon City.