AT LEAST 10,000 policemen will be mobilized in Metro Manila to enforce the law as a result of the thousands of demonstrators participating in tomorrow’s Labor Day celebrations, an official said Sunday.
Metro Manila Police Chief Camilo Pancratius Cascolan said the 10,000 policemen coming from the different police districts will be scattered in the rally areas.
He made his statement even as Labor Undersecretary Joel Manglungsod said President Rodrigo Duterte will be in Cebu on Tuesday to grace the 116th Labor Day celebrations at the IC3 Convention Center.
Manglungsod said the President will have an important announcement to make during the Labor Day event, which will feature a job fair.
Reports said thousands of protesters were expected to converge at the Chino Roces Bridge fronting Malacañan Palace, Liwasang Bonifacio and other rally points in celebration of Labor Day.
The highlight of the Labor Day celebrations will be the pressing issue of the “End of Contract” policy that President Duterte promised to terminate through an executive order but failed to do so.
Cascolan said the police to be deployed on Labor Day will be armed only with truncheons.
“The Crowd Dispersal Management teams will not have any firearms,” Cascolan said.
But he said the policemen will bar protesters from assembling in designated converging points in the absence of a rally permit.
“No permit, no rally,” Cascolan said.
Meanwhile, the police deployed at the venue and billeting areas of foreign dignitaries attending the 51st Asian Development Bank Governors’ Meeting have been alerted for potential parallel protests coinciding with the Labor Day celebrations.