PNP: 15,000 cops for Trillion Peso March to ensure safety, not intimidation

Philippine National Police (PNP) acting Police Chief Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. emphasized that the officers to be deployed for the upcoming “Trillion Peso March 2.0” this Sunday are not meant to intimidate attendees, but to ensure preparedness for any emergency.

“The deployment is not about intimidation, it's about readiness. We expect a large number of crowds in multiple activity areas so our personnel on the ground should be quick in responding to emergencies and even any violation of the law,” PLTGEN Nartatez said.

“Let me be clear that law enforcement presence does not mean aggressive action. The order for maximum tolerance still remains,” he added.

As the anticipated massive protests on 30 November draw nearer, the PNP has prepared more than 15,000 personnel.

Around 8,800 police personnel from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and 6,200 from the Special Action Force (SAF) and regional police offices will be deployed for the planned protests, which include major groups from organizers of the Trillion Peso March and Baha sa Luneta movements.

Major deployment areas include Luneta Park, People Power Monument, EDSA Shrine, sites around Malacañang, as well as the House of Representatives, Senate, and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure in Taguig.

According to the acting PNP chief, there is no specific or credible threat detected so far, but proactive measures remain necessary, including preparing for possible infiltration attempts by groups seeking to cause unrest similar to what happened during the 21 September rally in Manila.

“There are always these kinds of considerations for large gatherings. Our intelligence monitoring is focused on potential agitators. Rest assured, we are coordinating closely with other agencies to prevent any attempt to hijack the peaceful intent of the rally," Nartatez explained in Filipino.

To promote transparency and accountability, the acting PNP chief directed police ground commanders to finalize security coordination with protest organizers and partner agencies. Officers are also required to use body-worn cameras in all police engagements and to deploy human rights affairs officers across activity areas.

“We want to convey to the public that the PNP is here to protect, not to obstruct," PLTGEN Nartatez stressed.

"The deployment is to ensure the safety of everyone, whether they are protesters or not. We fully respect the people’s right to peaceful assembly, and our commitment is to provide a safe, orderly, and secure environment for everyone on November 30," he added.