By Ronron
February 21, 2008
In preparation for the mass gatherings starting Monday, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) may raise its alert level from normal to heightened level on Sunday.
NCRPO chief Director Geary Barias said they may field some 1,000 to 1,500 policemen to guard the gathering sites, especially in areas where demonstrators fail to get a permit from the local government.
"Maybe, this weekend, we could raise our alert level. It could be on Sunday afternoon… Maybe, we will go on heightened alert because the situation will dictate the reaction of the Philippine National Police," Barias said in Filipino.
Under heightened alert level, 50 percent of the police force is required to be on duty to make them readily available for any contingencies.
As of Thursday, Barias said they have not yet received any concrete plans or threats in the security in Metro Manila, particularly in relation to the scheduled mass gatherings.
So far, the activities that Barias knew for Monday are the following: 1) 7:30 am Program for the 22nd anniversary of People Power 1 Revolution at the People Power Monument in Quezon City to be attended by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo; 2) 9am Mass at the EDSA Shrine; 3) a separate mass at the Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City to be attended by former President Corazon Aquino and other anti-Arroyo forces; and, 4) Inter-faith rally on February 29 in Makati City.
"We intend to talk to the rally organizers so that the police will respond only based on what they intend to happen," he said.
"We saw what happened in Makati (last February 15) and if that is the kind of interaction between rally organizers and the Philippine National Police, then I think, everything will come out fine," he added.
Asked if they expect the series of mass actions to turn into a People Power-like scenario in 1986 and 2001 that effected a change in leadership in the country, Barias said: "We're hoping that this will just be … peaceful and quiet."
Barias assured that other policemen will continue to perform their regular jobs like manning stations, conducting anti-criminality campaigns, securing and facilitating traffic, among others.
He admitted that somehow, the conduct of rallies in the capital is "sapping" the resources of the PNP as far as their main concern, which is criminality, is concerned.
"While we would like to put more people on the streets so that we can influence the incidents of criminality in Metro Manila, somehow, our people have to be put on standby because of the rallies that are going on in some parts of Metro Manila," Barias said.
"What is happening is there are a number of policemen that are now dedicated for this purpose (rallies), which jeopardizes, somehow although not in a very great degree, our mission of anti-criminality campaign," he added.
While he consider the rallies as "part of democracy," putting more resources for the PNP's peace and order missions is better to him as a peace officer, Barias said.
In a separate interview, PNP chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. said he has already directed Barias not to take for granted the anti-criminality and anti-terrorism aspect of their job, like what happened when the PNP celebrated its founding anniversary at Camp Crame on February 6 was marred by a robbery incident in Quezon City./DMS
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