Supporters of former President Rodrigo Duterte gather at Rizal Park in Davao City on Tuesday afternoon, March 11. (Keith Bacongco)
Police forces across the country were placed under heightened security alert status in anticipation of widespread protest actions following the arrest and later the transport of former president Rodrigo Duterte from Manila to the Hague in the Netherlands in connection with the crime against humanity case filed against him over the drug war.
The alert status was raised on Tuesday, March 11, while Philippine authorities are still preparing for the transport of the former president and amid the gathering of Duterte supporters at the Gate 1 of the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City and in Davao City.
The memorandum was sent to all Police Regional Offices (PROs) and National Support Units that include the Special Action Force (SAF).
“This pertains to the current nationwide peace and order situation where possible civil disturbance, rallies and mass actions may arise following the arrest of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte,” the memo dated March 11 read.
“In this regard, PROs and NSUs are placed under Heightened Alert Status effective 5:00 PM of March 11, 20252,” it added.
Aside from Davao City, protest actions were also held in some parts of Mindanao like Iligan City, Bukidnon and Cotabato City.
The memorandum instructed all uniformed personnel to conduct proactive security measures and execute extreme caution “for possible enemy atrocities.”
It also advised police commanders to establish and intensify border control points and prepare civil disturbance management contingents to ensure peace and order and public safety.
The PNP memo came as lawyer Harry Roque, who is on the run for repeatedly ignoring the summons of the House of Representatives, and other popular Duterte supporters called for mass actions against what they described as illegal arrest of the former president.
Duterte was served with an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) after arriving from Hongkong on Tuesday morning.
The arrest warrant was coursed through the International Police (Interpol) which asked Philippine authorities for assistance, a request which the Philippine government is obliged to comply with according to President Marcos as part of the country’s obligation to honor its commitments to the international community.