OVER 20,000 people are expected to join the protest actions in Metro Manila on Thursday, September 21, in connection with the "National Day of Protest" declared by President Rodrigo Duterte.
Duterte's proclamation coincides with the 45th anniversary of the declaration of martial law by late President Ferdinand Marcos.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Chief Superintendent Oscar Albayalde said 10,000 anti-administration protesters are expected to flock to Rizal Park in Manila where they will hold a program to denounce the government's bloody war on drugs.
He said different groups will converge at the Liwasang Bonifacio in Ermita, Manila before they will march towards Rizal Park.
At least 15,000 people, on the other hand, are expected to join the pro-administration programs in Mendiola and Plaza Miranda in Quiapo.
Albayalde said they have not monitored any group that will hold their protest at the Edsa Shrine.
The NCRPO director said over a thousand policemen will be deployed to ensure the maintenance of peace and order in key areas in the metro.
The NCRPO's security contingents will include the Civil Disturbance Management (CDM) teams from the Regional Public Safety Battalion, intelligence officers, Special Weapons and Tactics teams, and augmentation teams from the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
He said policemen on the ground will not be allowed to bring their firearms but armed police forces are on standby in case of emergency.
Albayalde said 50 policemen will also be posted in each gate of the Malacanang as a preemptive measure.
He said protesters can freely move around since no barbed wires and container vans will be installed in key areas, while no network signal jammers will be installed.
Albayalde said he has ordered the police to exercise maximum tolerance during the protest actions as he urged the militant groups to police their ranks, to avoid violence and to cooperate with the authorities. (VoxPop Philippines)
