MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief PGen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. praised law enforcement personnel deployed across Metro Manila and other regions for ensuring that demonstrations commemorating the anniversary of Martial Law remained overall peaceful.
Nartatez stated that security forces successfully fulfilled their duty to safeguard both demonstrators and the general public, attributing the peaceful outcome to a strategic deployment plan.
“Our goal of ensuring that even those who participated in today’s activities would go home safe was achieved and only showcased the effectiveness of our calibrated security plan,” said Nartatez.
According to the PNP chief, the orderly conduct of the rallies demonstrated that public assembly rights and law enforcement duties can coexist without endangering public safety.
A force of over 17,000 police officers was stationed nationwide. In Metro Manila, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) operated under full alert status as various organizations assembled to mark the 54th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law.
“We commend our police officers on the ground for exercising maximum tolerance, restraint, and professionalism while ensuring public safety and protecting the right of citizens to peaceful assembly,” Nartatez said.
The PNP adjusted its security strategy following violent disruptions reported during the previous year’s September 21 protests.
“Today’s generally peaceful demonstrations show that the right to protest and the responsibility to maintain peace and order can go hand in hand. We respect the right of every Filipino to express their views peacefully, and we expect the same respect for the law and the safety of others,” Nartatez noted.
Nartatez directed police units handling the events to maintain continuous monitoring and handle isolated incidents swiftly to prevent potential escalations.