Independence Day: Duterte backers gather at Senate, 1,000 cops deployed

MANILA, Philippines — Over 1,000 police officers have been deployed outside the Senate building in Pasay City as Duterte supporters began to gather for a protest coinciding with the commemoration of the 128th Independence Day on Friday, June 12.

In an ambush interview, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Regional Director, Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin said a total of 1,090 police officers were deployed at the Senate as barbed wires were reinstalled along the northbound lane on Diokno Boulevard starting at 8 a.m.

Aberin also said the Philippine National Police are continuously monitoring the supposed security threats at the Senate.

“We read a lot on social media about those who are circulating it. Because of that, we have enhanced our security outside our Senate,” Aberin said.

READ: LOOK: NCRPO remains on ‘high alert’ over Senate threat

The NCRPO regional director, meanwhile, pointed out that they will let protesters conduct a rally outside the building and “will observe maximum tolerance.”

Duterte supporters—composed of groups MASADA, Rage Coalition, and DRS-Duterte Riders Supporters—set up a stage outside the Senate building this Friday morning for a program that they will be conducting in the afternoon.

They also placed a coffin beside the stage, saying that it symbolizes that “democracy is dead” in the country amid what they call “division” and “corruption” happening under the Marcos administration.

“We are gathering in front of the Senate to ask God’s intervention to have peace and unity among our politicians, especially here in the Senate institution,” DRS-Duterte Riders Supporters founder and national chair Onin said in an interview with the INQUIRER.

He said they had been camping outside the Senate building since May 11, when Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa appeared at the upper chamber after a half year of hiding before escaping again on May 14 amid his arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. /mr