BAGUIO CITY, Philippines -- The Philippine National Police does not see a repeat of the people power revolution which had toppled two presidents despite an anti-Arroyo rally in Makati City that is expected to draw crowds.

Nonetheless, Director General Avelino Razon said he has assigned half of the 125,000-strong police force to man checkpoints and to maintain peace, especially at the rally in the country's financial district and a known opposition bailiwick.

At least 2,000 policemen will be deployed in Makati, Manila, and the EDSA Shrine, Razon said.

Various civil society and leftist groups have confirmed their participation in the protest to ask President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to resign over allegations of corruption by her husband, Jose Miguel ?Mike? Arroyo, and some of her allies in the national broadband network contract forged with China's ZTE Corp.

"Wala naman po [It?s nothing]. I think sawa na ang mga tao sa ganyan [the people are sick and tired of rallies like these] and they just would want the country to move on at ang ating ekonomiya ay patibayin [and to strengthen our economy], magkaroon ng mga trabaho at umunlad ang ating bansa [for the government to generate jobs and for our country to progress]. Yang mga ganitong [These kinds of] people power, coup d? etat ay makaka-distract pa yan sa ating pag-move forward [will distract our efforts to move forward]," said Razon when asked during an interview.

"I know na meron tayong naka-standby na CDM [civil disturbance management] units pa and other contingency units na on call [I know that we have CDM units on standby and other units on call]," added Razon.

Senior Superintendent and spokesman Nicanor Bartolome said that the PNP would also adopt appropriate security measures while continuing intelligence monitoring to ensure public safety.

Bartolome also appealed to the public to "remain calm and vigilant."

In 1986, the first military-backed people power revolt ousted the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, and in 2001, the second one toppled then president Joseph Estrada who was succeeded by then vice president Arroyo.