A few hours before President Rodrigo Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (Sona), Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa visited policemen deployed near the Batasan Complex to remind them to exercise maximum tolerance to protesters.
“Maximum tolerance. Kasama sa sweldo natin ang ang masipa, mabato. Pero wag kayo masyado magpapabugbog,” he told the policemen during his inspection.
(Practice maximum tolerance. It’s part of our job to be kicked and stoned. But don’t get beaten up.)
About 6,000 policemen were deployed for the Sona in Metro Manila’s key rally points.
Police chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa briefs policemen to exercise maximum tolerance. INQUIRER PHOTO / LEO M. SABANGAN II
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The PNP earlier said they expected around 20,000 protesters to go near the Batasan complex.
While he said he was nervous, Dela Rosa said he was confident that the rallyists would be disciplined during the event as what they had agreed upon. IDL/rga