By Ronron
April 27, 2007
Police forces in Metro Manila and nearby regions will be placed on heightened alert, the second of three levels, effective midnight of Sunday in preparation for the Labor Day celebration on May 1.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Dir. Gen. Oscar Calderon said on Thursday night that they are doing this even if they expect fewer people to take the streets due to the preoccupation of many candidates in the election campaign.
“We will be declaring heightened alert status for the entire NCRPO (National Capital Region Police Office) and the adjacent regional offices effective 12 midnight on April 29,” Calderon said.
A heightened or blue alert status calls for the physical presence of 50 percent of the entire police force at police stations and outposts to ensure their availability when needed.
Calderon said the Task Force Manila Shield of the NCRPO, under Deputy Director General Reynaldo Varilla, will also be activated “to address the threat of major disturbances brought about by mass actions.”
Calderon said he directed his regional directors to closely coordinate with labor leaders and rally organizers for a peaceful celebration of Labor Day.
At the same time, he said he also reminded the civil disturbance management elements of the PNP to “strictly observe and respect human rights and exercise maximum tolerance in the events of rallies and demonstrations.”
Labor Day in the Philippines is traditionally celebrated by militant and other cause-oriented groups on the streets to air their grievances against the government. But it usually turns violent when confronted with law enforcers tasked to disperse them./DMS
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