MANILA — The Philippine National Police on Monday stated that it will deploy “no less than two thousand” cops at the National Museum in Manila, where president-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. set to take his oath as the next chief executive of the country.
Police Maj. Gen. Valeriano de Leon, head of the Directorate for Operations, said at a press briefing Monday morning that police nationwide have been on full alert since the May elections.
“The National Capital Region Police Office has enough number of police personnel. [Central Luzon] and [Calabarzon PNP] will only be utilized to ensure that there will be no movements, especially left-leaning organizations taking advantage of this activity,” he said.
In the Philippines, membership in left-leaning organizations is not illegal, and rallies can be organized without permits at designated freedom parks. Soon after the elections, Manila City Hall issued a memorandum reminding police to execute a Marcos-era law requiring permits for protests and rallies.
“We are still on full alert but we have scheduled our conference with the Commission on Elections and the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” De Leon also said.
When asked if the PNP received any requests for permits for rallies, De Leon replied in the negative.
“We have not received any communications from the primary areas like Manila, Quezon City, and Davao City. No permits have been issued by our local government units as of this time,” he said.
The Batas Pambansa Bilang 880 stated that demonstrators may only gather without permits at government-designated freedom parks. According to the PNP, the public might see PNP civil disturbance management personnel in areas where protesters are likely to hold protests.
“Civil disturbance management have their roles to make sure that the proceedings will not be disturbed,” De Leon said when asked how the PNP would respond to protesters. “Their job is to make sure illegal assemblies don’t get close [to the area].”
Earlier, the Commission on Human Rights reminded the PNP that the use of water cannons under Batas Pambansa 880 is the last resort and under the law, “shall not be used unless the public assembly is attended by actual violence or serious threats of violence.”
Police Col. Jean Fajardo, PNP spokesperson on Friday noted that the national police has not detected any threats to the inauguration.
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