MANILA, Philippines—Philippine National Police chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said no arrests would be made during State of the Nation (SONA) rallies as long as protesters heeded health and security protocols.
“There will be no arrests if they follow the rules that they have themselves offered,” Eleazar said at a Laging Handa briefing.
“We might warn or caution them at first, but if they insist on acts that were not agreed upon, then we will come in for dispersal,” he said.
He said protest leaders met with the Quezon City government over the weekend and agreed on guidelines for the rallies, including compliance with COVID protocols.
“These groups that will hold protests offered the conditions to our LGU that’s why they were given permission,” said Eleazar.
At least 15,000 police personnel will be deployed around Batasang Pambansa, home of the House of Representatives where President Rodrigo Duterte will deliver his last SONA.