Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr., chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), ordered police commanders to sustain the security measures at the Senate following what he described as a peaceful opening of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

While there was a confrontation between the police and the protesters, the security measures remained in place until the hearing ended.

“I commend our men and women on the ground for their professionalism and strict adherence to the policy of maximum tolerance. The peaceful conduct of the assembly was a testament to the discipline of our police force and the maturity of our citizens in exercising their democratic rights," Nartatez said.

While the security measure should be sustained, Nartatez emphasized the need to conduct regular threat assessment and monitoring as well as real-time adjustment of security measures depending on the situation on the ground.

He said all of these were planned and were part of the worse-case scenarios that are anticipated in relation to this impeachment trial.

The first day of the Senate impeachment trial on July 6 remained generally peaceful despite separate rallies held by different groups outside the Senate in Pasay City. The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) estimated the crowd at more than 300.

To ensure the safe and orderly conduct of the proceedings, the PNP deployed 6,630 personnel which included 3,250 police officers assigned to secure the Senate complex and 2,900 Civil Disturbance Management personnel on standby for immediate deployment if needed.

Security preparations also included the activation of a Special Task Group, the installation of additional CCTV cameras in strategic areas, the implementation of traffic rerouting plans, and coordination with nearby hospitals to provide immediate emergency medical assistance if necessary.

Nartatez said maintaining peace during the opening day was only the beginning, stressing that security measures must continuously adapt to changing conditions on the ground.

“Security is a dynamic, not a static, responsibility. We have institutionalized a 24/7 intelligence feedback loop, meaning our deployment strategy is recalibrated every hour based on real-time ground assessments to ensure that the Senate remains secure without impeding the public's right to peaceful expression,” he said.

Nartatez ordered police intelligence units to intensify monitoring to detect and prevent potential threats, provocations, or disruptive activities that could affect public safety or the orderly conduct of the impeachment proceedings.