THE PNP yesterday said it would deploy some 6,500 policemen to ensure peace and order during planned protests against Charter change moves which will coincide with the 38th anniversary of the 1986 Edsa People Power revolution on February 25.
PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr said 6,000 of the policemen during the commemoration of the revolt that ousted former President Ferdinand E. Marcos, the father of incumbent President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will be deployed in Metro Manila, while 2,500 other police will be deployed in Cebu City where former President Rodrigo Duterte will be leading anti-Cha-cha protests.
“We are looking at two rallies, one in Cebu and the other rally will be in (Metro) Manila,” Acorda told an ambush interview after a visit at the headquarters of the Manila Police District.
Acorda said the number of policemen that will be deploy may change, depending on intelligence information that will be coming in.
Acorda urged the protesters to peacefully hold their protests. “We (PNP) will be exercising maximum tolerance, but we hope no one will resort to violence,” he said, adding that the PNP has not monitored any plan to disrupt the protests.
Meanwhile, the Liberal Party, the political party of the late president Benigno Simeon Aquino III, announced it will lead the anniversary commemoration with the simultaneous holding of a “National Day of Action and Prayer” at the EDSA Shrine in Quezon City and the “Dasal Laban sa Kasinungalingan, Katiwalian, at Pang-aapi” at the Plaza Roma in Intramuros in Manila on Saturday.
The different chapters of LP both here and abroad would also hold a series of “palugaw,” “pataho,” film showing, storytelling and musical events from February 23 to 25.
There would also be various discussions about the EDSA story, and the Women of Edsa, as well as an art exhibit and distribution of yellow ribbon pins.
A tree planting, along with yellow ribbons tying activities along the Marikina Riverbank, will also be held on February 24, while a “Freedom Ride: Edsa Lives! Cancel Cha-cha” will be held in Ayala Avenue in Makati on February 25. Two bells in Bulacan are also expected to ring their bells on EDSA Day.
The EDSA People Power Revolution led to the removal from power of the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos, father of the incumbent president, and their exile to Hawaii until 1991. — With Jocelyn Montemayor
