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Protester hold placards during a rally commemorating the 52nd anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law in Manila on September 21, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File
MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) is beefing up security preparations ahead of expected rallies and protest activities on September 21, coinciding with the anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law in 1972.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. has directed local police units to intensify intelligence monitoring and prepare sufficient personnel and resources amid the expected gatherings.
Nartatez said the police deployment will focus on keeping the peace while protecting the rights and safety of protesters and the public.
“The instruction is clear and simple: There should be a sufficient number of policemen in all protest sites and to ensure the safety and security of everybody, including the protesters themselves,” Nartatez said in a statement.
“They have the right to assemble and air their concerns and our duty is to balance the respect and recognition for those rights, and our mandate to maintain peace and order and in keeping everyone safe and secure,” he added.
Similar demonstrations were held last year amid public outrage over alleged anomalies in flood control projects.
Some of the protests later turned violent after masked young individuals threw rocks that shattered a police outpost.
Nartatez said police presence will be aimed at preventing a repeat of such incidents while ensuring that rallies remain peaceful and within the bounds of the law.
He also reminded groups planning to hold demonstrations to secure the necessary permits and comply with existing rules and regulations.
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