MPD still on 'full alert' after September 21 rally — spox

The Manila Police District (MPD) said Monday it remains under a “full alert” status and is continuously monitoring areas in the city following the riot that occurred during the rally against corruption on Sunday, September 21.

“Nasa full alert pa kami. Hindi pa binababa ang ating alert level… Sabi nga natin, kalmado ang lugar, naitawid natin nang maayos maliban na lang dito sa mga isolated cases na nangyari dito sa Ayala Bridge at saka dito sa may Mendiola,” MPD spokesperson Police Major Philip Ines said at a press conference.

(We’re still on full alert. We have not yet lifted our alert level... As we said, the area was calm and we were able to go through with it except for the isolated cases that happened at the Ayala Bridge and in Mendiola.) 

“Marami pa rin tayong binabantayan sa lungsod ng Maynila…Hindi natin ibababa ang antas ng pagbabantay para dito sa ating mga kababayan,” he added. 

(We're still monitoring many areas in the City of Manila...We will not be complacent for our countrymen.) 

Despite the reported commotion, Ines maintained that the rally at Luneta Park was “peaceful.” 

The MPD official said in the same press conference that a group of hip-hop gangsters who claimed to have been influenced by a certain rapper was possibly behind the violence that occurred during the rally in Manila. 

A total of 76 civilians and 129 police personnel were reportedly injured amid the rallies on Sunday.

The National Capital Region Police Office raised the full alert status starting September 20, to secure the conduct of the September 21 anti-corruption protest rally. This was based on the instruction of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., according to the Philippine National Police (PNP). — RSJ, GMA Integrated News