THE Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod joined the Trillion Peso March 2.0 at the Bacolod public plaza on Sunday, Nov. 30. (CSAB)
BACOLOD CITY – An estimated 1,300 people from Negros Occidental, including this highly-urbanized city, gathered here on Sunday, Nov. 30, for the nationwide protest against corruption that coincided with Bonifacio Day.
Clad in white, students, priests, private individuals, and various stakeholders participated in the call for accountability and transparency amid recent controversies in the country.
Dubbed “Trillion Peso March 2.0,” rallyists converged at the Bacolod public plaza on Sunday afternoon for a program, including cultural performances by youth groups from different parishes and messages from different speakers.
The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) was on full alert, deploying 2,141 personnel to strategic locations throughout the region, including Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor, ensuring the safety, security, and general welfare of the public.
These personnel were assigned to critical operational duties such as fixed visibility posts, mobile and motorcycle patrols, foot patrols, traffic assistance, checkpoints, border control points, Civil Disturbance Management (CDM), drone operation, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) K9, and Red Team.
Other agencies, including local disaster rescue groups, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and traffic management units of local government units (LGUs), were also tapped to enhance situational awareness and rapid response capabilities.
Police Brig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay, PRO-NIR director, said the right to peaceful assembly is a vital pillar of democracy, one that they fully respect and is unwavering in its duty to protect.
He called on all participants to exercise their freedoms with responsibility, respect, and discipline. “Remain calm, cooperative, and vigilant as today’s activities unfold.”
The first protest action was held on Sept. 21, coinciding with the 53rd anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law.