PNP sets up control points near Edsa to secure INC rally

Cops with anti riot gear at Edsa Shrine. JULIE AURELIO/PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER

The Philippine National Police has set up control points near EDSA and Shaw Boulevard as a safeguard against those who might take advantage of the ongoing Iglesia ni Cristo rally.

So far, authorities have not encountered any “opportunist personalities” wanting to join the activity, which INC members claimed to be a religious gathering.

Chief Supt. Joel Pagdilao, director of the National Capital Region Police Office, said the INC has informed the police on the groups of people who would take part in the rally.

“We set up security control points to watch out for opportunists who might take advantage of the situation. We are coordinating with the INC as to who are legitimate INC members,” the police official said.

Six control points have been set up on the north and south-bound lanes of EDSA near the busy intersection.

Authorities are also gearing up for the expected arrival of INC members from the provinces on Sunday, the last day of the rally as allowed by the Mandaluyong City government.

Several personalities joined the activity on Friday and Saturday nights – such as Margarita “Tingting” Cojuancgo, Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, former Moro Islamic Liberation Front official Eid Kabalu, whistleblower Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada, and the Council of Philippine Affair’s Pastor “Boy” Saycon.

An informant said the presence of the personalities were coordinated with the INC and that the PNP has not been monitoring the personalities.

“As long as they do not issue political or inflammatory statements, and they are only there to express their solidarity with the INC, we are fine with that,” the source said.

As of 11 a.m. Sunday, the crowd estimate at the corner of EDSA and Shaw Boulevard was at 1,000.

Pagdilao assured that they deployed enough policemen to maintain peace and order, to secure the public’s safety and that of the INC members, as well as traffic and rerouting schemes with the local authorities and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.

The local governments of Mandaluyong City, Pasig City, Makati City, Quezon City and Manila have been tapped in the rerouting schemes.

The NCRPO also deployed an adequate number of anti-riot policemen at the EDSA Shrine, where the INC members initially gathered on Friday night, and at the People Power Monument in Quezon City.

Authorities do not expect the INC members to go to the People Power Monument since their rally permit is only valid until Sunday and in Mandaluyong City only.

Pagdilao explained that because of certain rules of engagement, policemen could not go near the rally.

However, the security control points and policemen assigned to traffic management are on hand to keep an eye on the activity in case criminals take advantage of the crowds.

“We also have detectives near the area deployed for safety and patrols,” Pagdilao said.

The PNP spokesperson, Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor, said policemen from Central Luzon and the Calabarzon region have also been readied for deployment to Edsa, in case of need.

“The deployment will depend on the situation if it calls for it, if there is no need to, then why should we go overboard?” the police official stressed.

The main concerns of the PNP are peace and order, the observance of human rights and the enforcement of maximum tolerance in allowing the INC members to freely express their sentiments, according to Mayor.

He said the PNP has been trusting the INC to maintain orderly conduct during the rally and not to inconvenience the public.

Meanwhile, the NCRPO still does not expect any “worst case scenario” even with the crowd swelling on Monday.

Pagdilao said the INC has already promised to cooperate and coordinate with the authorities, although the NCRPO has not been informed, as of Sunday afternoon,  when the contingent from the provinces would arrive.

“They are cooperating with us. We see this as a peaceful, religious activity and they just want to express their sentiments,” Pagdilao said.

The NCRPO chief himself went to check the deployment of policemen on the first night of the INC rally on EDSA, as well as on Saturday night.

Pagdilao said the activity was peaceful so far, although the protest on Friday night caused traffic jams on EDSA.

“By Saturday, it was more quiet and orderly since the INC had coordinated and managed the activity well,” he said.