PNP ready for Sept. 21 rallies

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has started implementing its security measures in anticipation of big rallies that would be conducted on Thursday that falls on the date martial law was proclaimed 45 years ago.

For a start, PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Dionardo Carlos said the Task Force Manila Shield has already been activated in order to focus on the security at the Rizal Park in Manila.

“The National Capital Region Police Office is prepping security deployment plan. The Manila Police District is updating Task Force Manila Shield today (Tuesday) until tomorrow (Wednesday),” said Carlos.

Thousands of protesters are expected to join the September 21 rally as critics have been connecting the martial law declaration to what they describe as extra-judicial killings in the conduct of the anti-drugs war which also targets minors.

Various groups have been calling for the full stop of the anti-drugs war and likewise condemn the present administration’s alleged silencing of its critics, the latest was the 11,000 budget for the Commission on Human Rights.

Carlos could not say how many policemen would be deployed but said it would depend on the information that would be received in the coming days.

He said the NCRPO is currently finalizing the security plan at the Rizal Park and other possible protest sites in Metro Manila.

Carlos, however, assured that the security measures at the Rizal Park and other areas where protesters would converge would not be strict as that of security measures implemented in securing foreign delegates in international gathering being held in Manila. “We will focus on traffic,” said Carlos. “We are confident that protesters will police themselves and we appeal to them not to commit crime,” he added.