NCRPO remain on high alert for Labor Day protests

MANILA, Philippines—The Holy Week break may be over but policemen in Metro Manila will remain on alert, this time in preparation for the commemoration of Labor Day on May 1.

Director Nicanor Bartolome, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief, said that he and his men would not lower their guard following a directive from the Philippine National Police headquarters.

In a phone interview, Bartolome said he would conduct a meeting today with district directors on security measures that would be implemented on May 1 which falls on a Sunday this year.

“We will have a more concrete plan when I meet with district directors [on Tuesday],” he said. “But definitely, we will provide security to [ralliers] because some people might take advantage of the situation.”

He added that the leaders of groups which were planning to stage protests on Labor Day should secure permits from the mayors of the cities where they wanted to hold marches as the police would strictly enforce the “no permit, no rally” policy.

At the same time, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chair Francis Tolentino stressed the need for the agency and local governments concerned to know where the rallies would be held.

In the MMDA’s radio program on Sunday, he said city governments ought to be informed where the demonstrations would be held “for them to make adequate preparations,” including a traffic rerouting plan to avoid any inconvenience to the general public.

“What we want to do is to have organization in expressing grievances that will not bother our people,” he said. “[Groups] have to secure rally permits from local governments which have jurisdiction over the locations they want to use.”