QC gov, police ready for People Power monument contingencies

As early as 4:00 a.m. Sunday, contingents from the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) were stationed at the People Power Monument on EDSA at the corner of White Plains Avenue.

Quezon City’s Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS) Head, Ret. Gen. Elmo San Diego, and QCPD officials held a final coordination meeting around 10:00 a.m. with United People’s Initiative (UPI) representatives, led by Mark Dilson Betuldo, who claimed they expect more than 300,000 attendees.

San Diego told the Daily Tribune that unlike the Iglesia Ni Cristo rally at Luneta Grandstand, which was granted a three-day permit by the Manila local government, the UPI has only until 10:00 p.m. Sunday, November 16, to hold their activity.

"One day lang ang kanilang (UPI) permit [to rally at People Power Monument]," San Diego said. He added that organizers of the EDSA Shrine protest at the corner of EDSA and Ortigas Avenue do not have any permit nor coordinated with authorities.

"Kausap ko UPI pag dinala banner BBM RESIGN palalabasin nila sa quadrant…May marshall UPI," San Diego said.

QCPD intelligence noted that the EDSA Shrine rally is being organized by Quezon City 2nd District Councilor Rannie Ludovica and Ka Eric Jeff Celiz, a leftist militant, both known Duterte supporters.

Betuldo, meanwhile, according to QCPD intelligence, is the founding chairman of the PMP Grassroots, representing PDP-Laban in the CALABARZON region, involved in organizing rallies and providing political commentary, including publicly supporting Sen. Manny Pacquiao’s 2022 presidential candidacy.

While UPI claimed that their protest is meant to be a wake-up call for fellow Filipinos to hold the government accountable, the EDSA Shrine rally appeared to call for President Marcos’ resignation. According to the organizers, they aim to start the protest before noon.