Protesters walk around police barricade on Commonwealth Ave

MANILA, Philippines – At least two groups of protesters walked around the barricade set up by police along the southbound lane of Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City early Monday.

They took the sidewalk along the Ever Gotesco Mall and managed to move the concrete barriers until they got pass through what Quezon City Police Department Traffic sector called the “Commonwealth Chapter.”

The Commonwealth Chapter is a portion of the road where rerouting of vehicles towards the southbound lane starts.

“They were only allowed until Quezon City Circle,” Gemma Balmaceda of the Traffic department said.

Police estimated the number of protesters to be from 150 to 200.

Unlike last year, barbed wires were attached at steel fences that divides the north and southbound lanes of Commonwealth Avenue.

Barbed wires were also placed on top of concrete barriers and fences in front of the police line near Ever Gotesco. Container vans were placed at the back of the police officers

The National Capital Region Police Office said around 8,000 police officers have been deployed to maintain security along the vicinity of the Batasan Pambansa complex.

Maximum tolerance will be enforced in dealing with protesters, NCRPO said.

Phalanx of anti-riot police watch from across barbed wires protesters as they gather for the 4th State of the Nation Address of President Benigno Aquino III before a joint session of Congress at the Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City Monday, July 22, 2013. JAMIE ELONA/INQUIRER.net