THE PNP has designated three freedom parks where groups can hold protest actions during the inauguration Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr at the National Museum in Manila on Thursday.
Protests outside Plaza Miranda, Plaza Dilao, and the Liwasang Bonifacio will not be permitted, PNP director for operations Maj. Gen. Valeriano de Leon said yesterday.
“These are the areas where they could hold programs without a permit from the local government,” said De Leon who is playing a key role in the implementation of security measures during the inauguration.
De Leon said he is hoping protesters will confine their programs to the three areas and not insist on assembling near the inauguration site on Padre Burgos avenue in Ermita.
Liwasang Bonifacio is the nearest to inauguration area as it is just about 1.2 to 1.5 km away.
“As stated previously, we respect the right of every individual and group to assemble and express their grievances. However, this right is not absolute. “There are some limitations that must also be observed, especially if the activities would already infringe on the rights of others in terms of inconveniences and issues relating to peace and order,” said De Leon.
He also said the PNP has reached out to protest organizers to ensure their mass actions will be peaceful and orderly.
He said civil disturbance management teams will be deployed to the three freedom parks to prevent the protesters from leaving these areas.
“We hope that these groups and individuals will respect that, just like we respect their right to assemble, they must also respect our mandate to manage them and maintain peace and order during the inauguration of our incoming president,” said De Leon.
“We will not permit them to cause trouble or disruption, especially during the activity, as the world will be watching and there will be delegations from various countries present,” added De Leon.
De Leon said PNP officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr has ordered policemen to exercise maximum tolerance in dealing with protesters during the inauguration.
“We will exercise maximum tolerance but we would also like to appeal to them to police their own ranks and ensure that they will not disturb the peace and order in the course of their planned activities,” he said.
De Leon also said the part of the Intramuros golf course in front of the National Museum is the designated area for people who want to watch the inauguration. The area can accommodate around 25,000 to 30,000 people, he said.
De Leon said people who are not in good physical condition should consider staying at home at watch the inauguration instead on their television.
“For those who will be coming to watch personally the oath-taking, I am reminding them to avoid backpacks,” he also said.
He reiterated that If people need to bring bags, they should use transparent ones so policemen can easily check their contents. “This will hasten, this will make screening process of would-be watchers easy,” he said.
De Leon said it is almost all systems go when it comes to the security preparations.
He said some 6,700 policemen will be deployed at the vicinity of the inauguration area but said the number will be increase if the situation warrants.
“What we are doing now is trying to have our finishing touches especially on the civic military parade to be participated in by (members of) uniformed services,” said De Leon.
PNP spokeswoman Col. Jean Fajardo said about 1,200 to 1,400 VIPs have been invited to attend the inauguration, and 50 to 60 buses will be used to transport the VIPs.
The Commission on Elections, whose main office is in Intramuros, announced a work-from-home schedule today and tomorrow for its offices in Manila due to road closures and heightened security measures being implemented in the city.
“Work-from-home schedule shall be implemented in the Commission on Elections Main Office, Offices the Regional Election Director for National Capital Region, Region 4A, and Region 4B, as well as in the Office of the Election Officer in the City of Manila on June 28 and 29,” said acting Comelec spokesman John Rex Laudiangco.
Work is suspended on June 30 which has been declared a special non-working holiday in Manila, he said.
Despite changes in work schedules, Comelec services on today and tomorrow will remain available, Laudiangco also said. — With Gerard Naval
