Three people, who introduced themselves as members of the media, were invited for questioning at a Manila Police District station over suspicions on the equipment they were wearing and carrying, the Philippine National Police said on Sunday, Nov, 30..

Aside from wearing balaclavas which is prohibited in Manila, police said the three were also wearing vests and kevlar, and were found to be carrying gas masks inside their van.

In a statement, the PNP said the three were invited to the police station when Manila policemen spotted them at around 9 a.m. on Sunday at on Kalaw Avenue near Plaza Salamanca.

"While we in the PNP recognize the role and the responsibility of the journalists to inform the public and to provide regular updates of significant events such as the Trillion Peso March, we do not recall legitimate journalists treating protest action sites as battle zones even before the activity starts,” the statement read.

“The suspicion over their decision to wear masks, along with the equipment they possess that include gas masks, have prompted our personnel on the ground to invite them to the police station for verification,” it added.

Police said the three claimed to be contributors for a social media-based entity.

The three were allowed to go after the verification process, according to the PNP.

Police said the three were asked to explain and the lawmen appeared to have been satisfied with their explanation.

But the three, according to the PNP, were reminded of the existing ordinance of the City Government of Manila prohibiting the use of balaclavas.

“We have no intention of curtailing press freedom, we just chose to exercise prudence as part of our security measures,” the PNP statement read.

“The Philippine National Police has committed to ensuring the protection of all the participants of the event, we intend to keep that promise throughout the duration of this activity, and until everyone goes back to their homes safely,” it added.