Security measures prepared vs anticipated anti-Aquino protests

THE NATIONAL Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has begun preparations in anticipation of protest actions marking President Aquino’s first year in office next week, with a request to rally organizers to inform authorities about their plans so they could lay out security measures properly.

Senior Supt. Dionardo Carlos, the NCRPO spokesperson, explained that it was important for the police to mobilize its personnel and lay out adequate security for both protesters and the general public.

“What we want is an orderly and peaceful conduct of their activities for the public’s welfare,” he said in a phone interview.

Rally organizers and protesters could do their programs and demonstrations as long as no law was being violated, the official added.

Traffic adjustments

Informing the police ahead of time about their mass action would also enable authorities to make adjustments in traffic flow should protesters intend to march as a sign of protest, according to Carlos. Doing so would was a way to ease any inconvenience “to other members of the community,” particularly the riding public, he continued.

He recalled that in the Labor Day protests last month, some groups coordinated with the police on their programs which enabled authorities to make certain adjustments such as traffic rerouting with the help of local government units and other government agencies.

The May Day activities went without any untoward incident because of adequate security measures in place, Carlos said.