By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday urged participants in rallies and activities in observance of Labor Day to be vigilant and alert at all times against armed groups that might try to infiltrate their ranks and stir trouble.
“If we see indications that our protests will be used to sow trouble, let’s not join. What we encourage is a mass action done in an orderly and peaceful manner,” PNP spokesman, Col. Bernard Banac, told reporters in a press briefing Tuesday.
Banac said the PNP would protect and not intentionally hurt rallyists, stressing that they are always exercising maximum tolerance towards them.
“The PNP’s aim is to maintain order. We are here to serve even these rallyists. We will secure them. Our appeal to them is not to hurt our officers,” he said.
PNP chief, Gen. Oscar Albayalde, earlier said a sizable security contingent will be fielded to ensure order and security in all places of engagement while policy of maximum tolerance will be strictly observed by police security forces.
Meanwhile, Major Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, National Capital Region Police (NCRPO) chief, said that a maximum tolerance policy will be implemented on Wednesday, provided that protesters have an approved permit from the local government unit.
He said a strategic plan will be implemented to help ensure that deployment of the 8,400 police personnel will effectively cover various aspects of police operations such as traffic management, civil disturbance management, anti-criminality, and counter-terrorism, emergency response and other necessary measures for an orderly, peaceful and successful event.
Eleazar also appealed to the public to be alert and report to the police any suspicious person or behavior and untoward incidents or crimes through the NCRPO hotline 0915-888-8181 or 0999-901-8181.
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