3,000 cops to be deployed for Labor Day protests in Manila

At least 3,000 policemen will be deployed in Manila to secure protest actions on Labor Day.

National Capital Region Police chief Director Oscar Albayalde said 2,000 members of the Manila Police District will be deployed on Labor Day to be augmented by 1,000 members of the Regional Public Safety Battalion.

Albayalde said an augmentation force of about 400 men will also be put on standby.

A radio dzBB report said that at least 3,000 members of labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) will join the Labor Day protests.

The KMU will be joined by at least 5,000 members of the Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay), who have occupied Agham Road in Quezon City since Saturday night.

The two groups will march to Don Chino Roces Street (formerly Mendiola), near the Malacañan Palace, in Manila.

In an interview on dzBB, Albayalde said the police will respect the protesting group's right to peaceful assembly. He said the police force that will be deployed have been told to exercise maximum tolerance.

He urge groups to keep their protest actions peaceful.

"Huwag tayong mananakit at huwag tayong manira ng property at 'wag tayong masyadong mang-abala ng mga kababyan natin lalo na iyong mga motorista," he said.

Albayalde said protest groups will only be allowed to gather in freedom parks, inlucindg the Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila.

He said they will be barred from holding protests in front of the United States Embassy along Roxas Boulevard. —ALG, GMA News