The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said Monday it will deploy 15,000 cops during the second “Trillion Peso March” on Nov. 30.
Meanwhile, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) bared it has filed complaints against 97 individuals, including alleged financiers and instigators, who were involved in the violent Sept. 21 anti-corruption protests in Manila.
“In fact, we already have around 15,000 personnel that we will deploy, excluding reinforcements coming from different regions such as Region III, Region IV-A, and other nearby regions that will beef up the NCRPO if necessary,” said NCRPO public information office chief Maj. Hazel Asilo.
The projected massive protest follows the first “Trillion Peso March” last Sept. 21, with protestors demanding accountability, return of stolen public funds, and full transparency.
Some individuals, including minors, were also arrested after violence broke out in Mendiola in Manila.
The NCRPO said it will boost intelligence gathering and monitoring to avoid any possible riots during the rallies.
“Right now, we have intensified our monitoring, especially our intelligence gathering, our communication with our fellow allied agencies about what they are monitoring. And based on this, we are taking steps on how we can prevent or avoid the same incident that happened last September 21,” Asilo said.
The police added that they are monitoring the possibility that those behind the riot last September could do the same again in the upcoming “Trillion Peso March.”
“We are still continuously monitoring and checking the groups that started or instigated the riot last September 21 will still have a part or role in our upcoming rally on November 30. So, all of this is what we are still monitoring up to now,” Asilo said.
In a press briefing held at Camp Crame in Quezon City, CIDG director Maj. Gen. Robert Morico II said charges of inciting to sedition, conspiracy and proposal to commit sedition, and sedition under the Revised Penal Code were filed before the Department of Justice on Oct. 28.
“The investigation is continuing and in the next few days, we will be filing again cases against the instigators and supposed people behind the violent incident in Recto and in Mendiola,” Morico said.
He said authorities have identified several individuals seen in circulating videos allegedly inciting violence, including calls to burn Malacañang Palace.
PNP acting chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. assured the public that the police are already preparing for the upcoming nationwide protests on Nov. 30.
He cited police deployment prevented protest groups from reaching restricted areas near Malacañang on Sept. 21.
“We know the rallyists coming from the Luneta Grandstand, the group coming from Liwasang Bonifacio, en route going to People Power Monument and the EDSA Shrine, we know that they will pass by Malacañang. That’s why we blocked, we put up barriers there),” he explained.
He said the police is focused on three main priorities—close monitoring of protest groups, reinforcement of security barriers and surveillance systems in coordination with local government units (LGUs), and additional deployment of security forces.
“We’re improving our security, putting up barriers, coordinating with LGUs to install more CCTV. We’re also working closely with the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), Coast Guard and other force multipliers to secure the area,” Nartatez said.
