THE PNP yesterday said some 6,200 policemen will be deployed to secure the secure the June 30 inauguration of President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr at the National Museum in Manila.
The number does not include members of civil disturbance management (CDM) teams who will also be deployed, said Maj. Gen. Valeriano de Leon, PNP director for operations.
He said the number of CDM personnel to be deployed “will depend on the reports that we will receive as we go near the date (of inauguration).”
“We need to be ready if they (protesters) become unruly or if they will hold activities in areas where protests are not allowed. We have freedom parks where they can hold protests,” said De Leon.
De Leon said the CDM personnel will be positioned in areas outside the inauguration area.
“But we will have quick reaction teams (at the inauguration site) to prevent possible attempts to sabotage,” he said.
De Leon urged protesters to hold their rallies at freedom parks. “The world is watching this historic event, we should show that we are orderly,” he said.
“Remember that the world is watching us and we do not allow unruly and unauthorized rally. We have freedom parks… where they could air their grievances and issues, not in areas where it is not allowed, especially by local government,” he said.
De Leon said local government units have not issued any permit to any group to hold rallies outside freedom parks “so if we notice some illegal assembly, we are not going to allow that, more so get near the site (of inauguration).”
De Leon also said he has recommended to PNP officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr the suspension of permit to carry firearms outside residence (PTCFOR) a few days before and after the inauguration.
Danao said he has made a similar recommendation in connection with the inauguration of Vice President-elect Sara Duterte-Carpio in Davao City on June 19.
The PNP earlier said some 2,000 police will secure the inauguration of Duterte-Carpio.
“The suspension of permit to carry applies in Metro Manila and Davao region… We plan to implement it few days before and few days after (the inaugurations),” he said.
