NCRPO to deploy 2,500 cops for Edsa People Power commemoration

NCRPO Chief Brig Gen Debold Sinas holds a press briefing on Monday in preparation for the 34th anniversary celebration of EDSA 1 at Camp Karingal in QC. Noy Morcoso/Inquirer.net

MANILA, Philippines — About 2,500 policemen will be deployed to secure the commemoration of the Edsa People Power Revolution on Tuesday, Feb. 25, with four locations being considered as “areas of concern,” including the ABS-CBN compound.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas on Monday said that the figure will include some 251 cops from the Joint Task Force – National Capital Region.

Police have identified four “areas of concern” where cops will be deployed to provide security: National Housing Authority, Philippine Coconut Authority, and Welcome Rotonda, where protesters traditionally converge, and most notably, the ABS-CBN Compound.

Sinas explained that these areas were where protest rallies were held during previous commemorations of the Edsa People Power Revolution.

“’Yung mga lugar na ‘yun, ‘yun ‘yung last year saan nagma-martsa, saan galing. Ang idea namin, might as well provide security doon sa kanila. But we will not stop them from marching, imonitor lang,” he said in a press conference in Camp Karingal.

(The areas identified are where the previous protest rallies were held. We thought that we might as well provide security there. But we will not stop them from marching, we will only monitor.)

When asked why the network’s compound has been included in the list of areas of concern, he said that the police had received a request from the local government of Quezon City to include the ABS-CBN compound for monitoring.

“Ngayong umaga, mayroon silang request mag-ikot eh. Baka mamaya mag-iikot din sila so might as well i-secure na yung route para sa kanila… Imo-monitor lang naman,” he said.

He insisted that in 2019, the network’s compound had also been subject to the police monitoring as rally site.

While it was not common knowledge that ABS-CBN was part of monitoring in last year’s Edsa revolt commemoration, the network indeed sought a permit from the QC hall for last Friday’s protest for their franchise renewal bid.

Aside from the police, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will deploy 648 of its personnel to assist traffic on roads on Tuesday.

The Bureau of Fire Protection will likewise deploy four firetrucks to the concerned areas.

Sinas reminded protesters that they need to secure permits from the local government before they could hold rallies on Tuesday.

Police are also open for dialogue and coordination with groups planning to hold protest activities, he added.

Edited by EDV