The Philippine National Police (PNP) vowed on Monday, May 30, to stand its ground against the protesters in anticipation of the conduct of more rallies in the future following the victory of Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. in the presidential race.

PNP Officer-In-Charge Police Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao, Jr. said that while the police adheres to the concept of maximum tolerance in dealing with the protesters, it will always be a different approach when the rallyists would resort to violate the law and become violent.

"Yes, we always observe maximum tolerance in dealing with the protesters and assure everybody that their right to air their grievances in public will always be protected," said Danao in his speech during the Monday's Flag-Raising Ceremony.

"However, when people have no other intention but to undermine the government and start to break the rules and start to violate the agreements that we have made, start to trample upon the rights of others, starts to transgress the law in front of our faces, we had to act and act with dispatch and firm resolve," he added.

He cited as an example what happened last week during the first day of the canvassing of votes for the presidential and vice presidential races wherein authorities used water cannons to deal with the rallyists in Quezon City.

For Danao, the use of water cannons was logical since he said the rallyists became violent when they were not allowed to enter prohibited areas. He also accused protesters of taunting policemen.

Danao said despite being soaked in water, the protesters continue to attack policemen.

The incident was condemned by some groups but Danao said those who condemned the incident failed to see the incident wherein protesters kicked and waggled the shields of the policemen as if they were trying to provoke the anti-riot cops.

"It was evident that they were harassing our policemen who were merely doing their job but our personnel really acted within professionalism in dealing with the protesters. That's professionalism at its best," said Danao.

"What is saddening here is that our critics have failed to mention the fact that the melee was started by protesters who broke some of our CDM equipment and tried to march to a place where they should not be. We really had to differentiate what si right and what is wrong in a democratic country like ours," he added.

Danao then called on all the PNP personnel to unite in dealing with the protesters.

"When people have no other intention but to lambast our leaders and try to create trouble that may spill into the streets and we have to most fast. When protesters tried to launch action that will directly affect other people's lives and properties and even contribute to our traffic problem, we have to do our part," said Danao.

" Maximum tolerance is our policy but we will see to it that the rule of law will always be followed in the event protesters would start creating trouble," he emphasized.