Police gear up for ‘EDSA Tayo’ rally next week

 MANILA, Philippines - Police in Metro Manila are now setting up security plans to ensure the orderly and peaceful conduct of the “EDSA Tayo” rally on Sept. 11 calling for the abolition of the pork barrel of lawmakers.

Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Senior Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac said the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) under Chief Superintendent Marcelo Garbo Jr. and event organizer Junep Ocampo are closely coordinating security preparations for the event.

“The NCRPO chief said he is prepared to secure the activity on Sept. 11 at EDSA Shrine, while lead organizer has been referred to Director Garbo. They will be having regular meetings on how to go about the activity,” he added.

Sindac said the police operations during the event will be limited to traffic management and control, civil disturbance management, security operations in terms of preventing other interest groups and criminal elements from infiltrating the activity.

“Alternate rerouting, but let’s see how it works. This is a prayer vigil, which we hope could be confined within EDSA Shrine. If not, they have already prepared alternate route for such eventuality if traffic will worsen,” he said.

Garbo said 500 policemen from the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) will be deployed in the area, while another 500 will be on standby, ready for deployment.

At the same time, Sindac said the PNP is also aware of the commemoration of another incident, the anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks in the US.

He said the PNP has not monitored any specific threats.

“We are also exploring talks between intelligence community like the Armed Forces of the Philippines, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency. They are conferring from time to time to assess if there are threats, as of now there is no monitored threat,” Sindac added.

The Catholic Church, on the other hand, has yet to declare formal support for the gathering.

CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Youth (ECY) executive secretary Fr. Conegundo Garganta called on the faithful to “discern” if they should attend the event.

He said the youth should discern and thoroughly study the circumstances surrounding the planned gathering.

Garganta said it would be best if they wait for guidance from the Catholic bishops before they decide on going to EDSA to join the protest.

“First, we would like to make our actions organized and synchronized. The ECY, as we discern on the point of how the people are being requested, encouraged, invited to the big gatherings that we ask and wait for our bishops to help, guide and lead, especially the people coming from the parishes and dioceses,” Garganta said.  

– With Evelyn Macairan