PNP ‘fully prepared’ to secure Black Friday protests

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said they are "fully prepared" to provide security for the Black Friday protests against corruption in flood control projects.

“Ang PNP ay magbabantay sa ating mga kababayan na magsasagawa ng kilos protesta,” PNP public information office chief Police Brigadier General Randulf Tuaño told GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita in an interview.

(The PNP will watch over our countrymen who will be carrying out protest actions.) 

“Fully prepared ang [National Capital Region Police Office], Region 3, at Region 4 na PNP upang proteksyunan ang ating mga kababayan,” he added.

(We are saying that the National Capital Region Police Office, Region 3, and Region 4 of the PNP are fully prepared to protect our countrymen.)

A total of 950 cops have been deployed at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) main office and Mendiola Peace Arch in Manila; Senate in Pasay City; Batasan Pambansa Complex, EDSA Shrine, and People Power Monument in Quezon City.

Another 1,300 police personnel are on standby.

“Ang PNP ay nirerespeto ang freedom of expression ng ating mga kababayan lalo na kung ito ay authorized at peaceful assembly,” Tuaño said. 

(The PNP respects the freedom of expression of our countrymen, especially if it is an authorized and peaceful assembly.)

Tuaño said the PNP received reports that protests will be staged on Friday and Saturday in connection with the reported anomalous flood control projects.

Several protests have been conducted in the country in the past days over reports of corruption in the government’s flood control projects while many areas in the country have been submerged from heavy rains.

On Thursday, PNP acting chief Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said security plans are set in case protests hit major government establishments like what happened in Nepal and Indonesia.

“We have readied our security plans for dispersal, crowd management, and security. Mayroon na tayong security plans that have been set,” Nartatez said.

(We have readied our security plans for dispersal, crowd management, and security. We have security plans that have been set.)

“We have also our information na puwede nating pagtuunan or itong information na ito, this is the basis for any operation,” he added.

(We also have our information that we can focus on or this information is the basis for any operation.)

In Nepal, Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli on Tuesday resigned as protests against corruption intensified with demonstrators storming the parliament complex and setting the homes of some politicians on fire.

In Indonesia, political parties nearly two weeks ago agreed to revoke a number of perks and privileges for parliamentarians in a bid to calm anti-government protests. 

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has called for an investigation into anomalous flood control projects. Several government agencies, as well as the Senate and the House of Representatives, have launched their respective investigations. —Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA Integrated News