PNP: No report of terror threat on National Day of Protest

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Wednesday that it has not monitored any terror threat in connection to Thursday’s National Day of Protest.

“Wala tayong nakukuhang information dito,” National Capital Region chief Police Director Oscar Albayalde told reporters.

He said they see less than 10,000 protesters to converge at Luneta Park in Manila.

“We are estimating less than 10,000 kung talagang mabubuo tong convergence sa (if there will indeed be convergence at the) Luneta and we are prepared for this,” Albayalde said.

President Rodrigo Duterte declared Sept. 21 as National Day of Protest, leading to the suspension of government work and classes in all public schools nationwide.

READ: Duterte declares Sept. 21 as national day of protest

The PNP will deploy 600 Civil Disturbance Management contingents, 400 policemen from Manila Police District at the US Embassy, 100 policemen in Mendiola and another 50 in the gates of Malacanang for the protests.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines will assign 100 of its forces to augment the PNP.

The police chief said they have not asked for augmentation from nearby provinces but Regions 3 and 4 are on standby.

Intelligence personnel will also be deployed to act as observers.

“We have observers, SWAT units on top of the buildings, high-level infrastructure para ma-monitor talaga (to really monitor). This is the same as we did sa Traslacion. We can see everybody on top,” he said.

Albayalde said they will not use barbed wires, container vans, and signal jammers.

“Wala (None). Only our personnel so we expect na hindi naman sila manggugulo (that they will not be bothersome),” he said. /idl