2,500 police deployed for People Power anniversary
Credit to Author: Darwin Pesco| Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2020 17:04:16 +0000
About 2,500 police officers will on Tuesday be assigned to places in Metro Manila where there are programs commemorating the 34th anniversary of the People Power Revolution.
The police would be backed by a contingent of soldiers, National Capital Region Police chief. Gen. Debold Sinas said on Monday.
“Yes, we are ready, ang ginawa [natin] harmonized ang deployment… Bukas ready kami (what we did is harmonize the deployment… Tomorrow we are ready),” he told a press briefing in Camp Karingal, Quezon City.
Also to be deployed are 251 troops from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Sinas added.
At the same time, 648 traffic enforcers from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) would be mobilized for traffic management.
MMDA head of traffic Edison Nebrija said motorists should expect traffic build-up along the People Power Monument along EDSA once the programs start.
Sinas said no Civil Disturbance Management teams would be deployed at areas where rallyists would converge.
Sinas and Quezon City Police District chief Brig. Gen. Ronnie Montejo said the police were willing to dialogue with demonstrators to prevent any altercation between groups with differing views.
Just the same, there is a contingency plan in case violence flares, Sinas said.
The Metro Manila police would be on red alert today, he added.
Sinas said no imminent threat had been detected during the People Power anniversary.