The Philippine National Police (PNP) will recalibrate its security measures for the State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. following the decision of the Quezon City government to allow rallyists to hold protest actions along Commonwealth Avenue.
Police Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao, Jr., PNP officer-in-charge, said he already tasked the unit commanders concerned to coordinate with other government agencies concerned for the adjustment of security measures.
“We will abide by the decision of the city government and we will make the necessary adjustments just to ensure that we play no favor to any group. Our request is for them to conduct their mass protests peacefully,” said Danao.
While the standing order to police personnel is to practice maximum tolerance, Danao asks the protesters in return not to commit unruly acts so authorities won’t use the necessary force as authorized by law.
The QC government, through its Public Order and Safety, has reversed its earlier decision to deny protesters the right to hold protest actions along Commonwealth Avenue.
In its latest decision, progressive groups will be allowed to conduct marches and assemblies along the Eastbound lane of Commonwealth Avenue up to the corner of Tandang Sora Avenue, while pro-Marcos groups will be allowed to gather at the IBP Road near Sinagtala Street in Barangay Batasan Hills.
Police Maj. Gen. Valeriano De Leon, PNP director for Operations, said they respect the decision of the QC government and assured that sufficient numbers of policemen and force multipliers will be deployed at Commonwealth Avenue to ensure smooth traffic flow and, at the same time, in anticipation of any eventuality.
"We respect the decision of the Quezon City government in granting a permit to rally at Commonwealth Avenue. "As law enforcement agencies mandated to uphold the law, we will abide by the decision and it is the PNP which will make some adjustments in the light of that decision," said De Leon.
"We, however, appeal to the organizers to ensure that peace and order are maintained just as we assure them that our personnel on the ground will abide by the instruction of our PNP OIC, PLTGEN VICENTE DANAO, JR. that we will exercise maximum tolerance," he added.
De Leon also expressed gratitude to the QC government for suspending classes at all levels on Monday, July 25, and for encouraging local businesses to either suspend their operations or adopt a work-from-home arrangement.
Before the permit to rally was granted, the QC government met with rally organizers and the PNP and discussed measures to ensure that the protest actions would be peaceful and orderly.
It was agreed that protesters would follow minimum health protocols as well as discipline their ranks and finish their activities at the agreed time.
"Just like what we are always saying, we respect their rights to peaceably assemble and air their grievances, and that is the reason why we designated freedom parks for them," said De Leon.
"But we also expect them to respect our personnel who would be deployed in the area because they would only perform their job of maintaining peace and order for everybody, including the protesters themselves," he added.