The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday placed its forces under Full Alert Status as thousands of members of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) gathered at the People Power Monument along EDSA to protest the Office of the Ombudsman's planned filing of graft and corruption charges against Sen. Rodante Marcoleta.

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said Police Regional Offices 3 and 4A, the National Capital Region Police Office, National Support Units, and Camp Crame-based offices were placed on full alert effective 5 a.m. As of 9 a.m., 5,936 police and allied security personnel had been deployed to key areas, including the People Power Monument, EDSA Shrine, the Senate, Mendiola, Ayala Bridge, the U.S. Embassy, and Liwasang Bonifacio.

"The PNP recognizes and respects the constitutional right of every Filipino to peacefully assemble and express their views," Nartatez said. He said police personnel were directed to exercise maximum tolerance, remain impartial, uphold human rights, and perform their duties with professionalism while urging rally participants to keep the assembly peaceful and orderly.