PNP confident no more riots in Sept. 21 protests

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday said it was confident there would be no riots during the expected protest actions this coming Sept. 21, compared to the violent incidents seen last year.

“Malaki ang kumpiyansa natin,” PNP public information chief Col. Allen Rae Co said in a press briefing in Camp Crame.

(We have much confidence.)

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“We have calibrated our security plan and deployment to cater doon sa nangyari, to be able to address better yung nangyari the previous year,” he added.

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(We have calibrated our security plan and deployment to cater to what happened, to be able to better address the events of the previous year.)

READ: PNP to Sept. 21 protesters: Don’t test police’s resolve

Last year, riots broke out at the Ayala Bridge and the Mendiola Peace Arch area in Manila after several masked individuals were supposedly seen throwing bottles and items at police.

Hundreds of individuals were arrested, while one was reportedly killed during the violence.

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Groups are anticipated to gather once more this coming Monday to condemn government corruption a year after the flood control scandal broke out and to commemorate the 54th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law by dictator then-President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr.

According to Co, no groups have applied for a permit to hold an assembly on Monday.

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Progressive group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan previously said it will hold its program at 3 p.m. at Manila’s Liwasang Bonifacio, a freedom park that requires no permits under Batas Pambansa No. 880 or the Public Assembly Act, before proceeding to the Mendiola area.

For its part, the PNP earlier said it was deploying over 15,700 police officers for security measures during the rallies.

Further, the National Capital Region Police Office raised the full alert status.

The alert level was initially set to take effect at midnight on Saturday, but it was moved up to midnight on Friday.

“Yung alert level naman kasi, ‘pag in-upgrade mo yan, this is to better deal with any situation that may arise. It does not signify any additional threat or yung previously unknown threats na mai-identify natin,” Co explained.

(Alert levels are upgraded to better deal with any situation that may arise. It does not signify any additional threat or previously unknown threats that have since been identified.)

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He further noted that no security threats had been monitored for the protest-actions so far. /mr