PNP all set for November 30 protests

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is now ready to secure the massive anti-corruption protests at Luneta Park in Manila and People Power Monument in Quezon City on November 30.

In a statement, PNP acting chief Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the organization is set to deploy a stronger security contingent for the rallies, where 15,000 cops will be deployed.

“The deployment is not about intimidation, it's about readiness. We expect large number of crowds in multiple activity areas so our personnel on the ground should be quick in responding to emergencies and even any violation of the law,” Nartatez said.

“Let me be clear that law enforcement presence does not mean aggressive action. The order for maximum tolerance still remains,” he added.

This is to make sure that all mass actions remain peaceful, orderly, and free from attempts to incite violence or disrupt public safety, according to the PNP.

The deployment includes around 8,800 police personnel from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and 6,200 police personnel from the Special Action Force (SAF) and regional police offices.

These cops will focus on the following locations:

• Luneta Park
• People Power Monument
• EDSA Shrine
• sites around Malacañang
• House of Representatives
• Senate
• Independent Commission for Infrastructure

So far, no specific or credible threat has been detected so far but proactive measures remain necessary, according to Nartatez.

The PNP is also preparing for possible infiltration attempts by groups seeking to cause unrest, similar to the incident of the September 21 rally in Manila. 

“May ganitong considerations lagi sa malalaking gatherings. Naka-focus ang intelligence monitoring natin sa potential agitators. Rest assured, we are coordinating closely with other agencies to prevent any attempt to hijack the peaceful intent of the rally,” Nartatez said.

(There are always considerations like this in large gatherings. Our intelligence monitoring is focused on potential agitators.)

Body-worn cameras will be used in all police engagements and human rights affairs officers will be present across the activity areas for transparency and accountability, according to the PNP.

“Gusto naming iparating sa publiko na the PNP is here to protect, hindi para manghadlang. Ang deployment po ay para masiguro ang kaligtasan ng lahat, protesters man o hindi,” Nartatez said.

(We want to convey to the public that the PNP is here to protect, not to hinder. The deployment is to ensure the safety of everyone, whether protesters or not.)

“We fully respect the people’s right to peaceful assembly, and our commitment is to provide a safe, orderly, and secure environment for everyone on November 30,” he added. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News