NCRPO on full alert starting Saturday for September 21 protests

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The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will be placed under full alert status starting Saturday in preparation for expected protests in Metro Manila on September 21.

Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Police Colonel Allen Rae Co said more than 15,700 police personnel will be deployed in the region.

“It will start 12 midnight yung paglipat ng September 19 sa Saturday and full deployment will be done by the afternoon of Saturday at 5 p.m.,” he said at a press briefing.

(It will start at 12 midnight on September 19 on Saturday and full deployment will be done by the afternoon of Saturday at 5 p.m.)

Additional personnel from Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and other regions may also be deployed depending on the situation.

Co said security personnel assigned to the protest operations will not carry firearms. Crowd dispersal management (CDM) personnel will be equipped with protective gear, including helmets and shields, as well as batons.

Police officers will use body-worn cameras during the security operations.

Maximum tolerance will be observed during the expected protests, according to the PNP.

Rally permits

As of 9 a.m. on Thursday, Co said the PNP had not received any application for a rally permit but police expect groups to conduct activities on September 21.

He said peaceful assemblies may be held in designated freedom parks even without a permit, subject to some limitations. Groups planning to hold protests in other areas need to secure a permit, he added.

Co said police have not monitored any specific threats so far but are continuously monitoring the situation.

The PNP has also prepared a security plan for Malacañang and will assess the situation as the protest date approaches.

Co declined to disclose the specific streets and areas where police will be deployed, saying the details are for internal security purposes.

The PNP official called on protesters to respect the rights and safety of other people during their activities. —VAL, GMA News