By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Monday said that 2,250 police officers will be deployed to provide security for possible ‘Black Friday’ protests in parts of Metro Manila on Sept. 12 due to questionable flood control projects.
In a press briefing held at Camp Crame, NCRPO spokesperson Maj. Hazel Asilo said they have received reports that some rallies will be held in Mendiola, near the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) both in Manila, along EDSA, at the Senate and the House of Representatives.
“Meron na kasi tayong na-monitor na may four na activities by Friday. Ito ang ating pinaghahandaan although hindi pa natin sure yung specific na mga locations. Sa ngayon meron tayo sa Manila, meron din sa EDSA… with regards sa kung sino sa kanila yung may mga permits is wala pa (We have already monitored that there will be four activities by Friday. We are preparing for this, although we are not sure of the specific locations yet. Right now we have one in Manila, one in Edsa… but no permits have been issued yet),” Asilo told reporters.
She added that maximum tolerance will be observed on the designated areas for protests even as she reminded protesters to make sure they do not cause inconvenience.
Raps vs. Batasan protesters
In a related development, Quezon City Police District (QCPD) officer-in-charge Col. Randy Glenn Silvio said Police Station 6 is already preparing a possible complaint for alarm and scandal, and violation of Batas Pambansa 880 or Public Assembly Act of 1985, against members of progressive organizations over a protest outside the House of Representatives that left seven to eight police officers injured last week.
“Pine-prepare na ng Police Station 6 yung filing ng case actually medyo may sugat sa ulo yung isang PNCO at yung batallion commander. Yung iba naman gasgas lang. Minor injuries lang naman (Police Station 6 is already preparing to file the case. One Police Non-Commissioned Officer and the battalion commander suffered head injuries, while the others only had scratches. They were just minor injuries),” Silvio said in the same press briefing.
“We coordinated with the organizers sabi naman nila meron sila bibigay na pangalan. Iyon ang hinihintay namin yung identity ng, I think, from Southern Tagalog (They said they will give us names. And we are waiting for the identities. I think they are from Southern Tagalog).”
During the rally that coincided with deliberations on the proposed 2026 budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways on Sept. 5, protesters outside the Batasang Pambansa threw different objects at the south gate, while police officers covered the chamber with anti-riot shields.
The protesters were from Kabataan, Alliance of Concerned Teachers, Bayan Muna, and other progressive organizations.
Discaya security request
Meanwhile, Pasig police chief Col. Hendrix Mangaldan said they have yet to receive any formal request from controversial contractors Pacifico ‘Curlee’ and Cezarah Rowena ‘Sarah’ Discaya for security personnel, after some activists staged a protest outside the headquarters of their company, St. Gerrard Construction, over alleged irregularities in flood-control projects.
“Ang nakikita lang natin, yung sinasabi ng kanilang legal counsel airing this request, but as to the formality of this request, wala (What we have only seen is their legal counsel airing this request, but as for the formality of this request, there is none),” Mangaldan told reporters in the same briefing.
Mangaldan, however, assured the public they have a standby force for any eventualities.
“It’s just part of the management of our security plans for all events. It’s just normal na meron tayong conservative deployment dito (to have a conservative deployment here) to prevent similar things from happening to protect our constituents,” he added.
The Eastern Police District is now coordinating with the Discayas for the filing of a formal complaint. Their lawyer earlier confirmed plans to pursue charges. The protesters may face charges of malicious mischief and vandalism. (PNA)
