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NCRPO: Sacked Caloocan cops deployed on September 21 to keep watch over protests


Police officers who were relieved from their respective posts in Caloocan City will be part of the 400 to 600-strong contingent that will be deployed to keep the peace amid the expected protest actions on September 21.

National Capital Region Police Office Chief Oscar Albayalde confirmed that former Caloocan cops would be fielded on the 45th anniversary of Ferdinand Marcos' declaration of Martial Law.

He said some would be also be assigned to secure the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Manila.

"Not all (will be deployed for the rallies on September 21)," Albayalde said in a text message.

"Some will, and some will be used in ASEAN duties," he added.

The entire Caloocan police force was fired after some of them allegedly robbed a woman’s house in a recent drug raid.

Caloocan cops were also implicated in the killing of 17-year-old Kian Delos Santos in an alleged drug raid.

Albayalde said the deployment on September 21 of the relieved Caloocan cops does not clash with their planned retraining.

He said clause of the retraining has yet to start, he added.

Another group is undergoing retraining as part of the Philippine National Police’s Balik Kampo Program, which started last year, Albayalde told GMA News Online. “‘Di pwedeng sabay-sabay.”

Four hundred officers will be fielded from the Regional Public Safety Battalion, while the rest will come from the Manila Police District, depending on the yet unidentified volume of protesters on Thursday, said Albayalde.

Police forces will be concentrated on the Rizal Park-Liwasang Bonifacio area, where they anticipate the majority of protesters will converge, added Albayalde.

But the numbers may be augmented, the NCR police chief said.

“Kung talagang kailangan po, we can get from other districts,” Albayalde said.

Albayalde said the police will exercise maximum tolerance on the day of the protest, though there will be the usual monitoring and security efforts.

“Sabi nga natin, ‘yung rumespeto sa karapatang pantao,” he said of the attitude of the police towards protesters on September 21.

Albayalde said he had yet to know the expected number of protesters, but said a part of the protesting contingent will come from the Lumad delegates now camped at the Quezon City Memorial Circle.

The NCR police chief also added he has been hearing word of a pro-Duterte rally but does not currently have specific details.

President Rodrigo Duterte has declared September 21 a “National Day of Protest,” cancelling government work and classes in all levels to make way for plans from various groups to stage commemorative actions for the now-45-year-old proclamation of Martial Law, a historic event that has long since polarized the nation. —NB, GMA News

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