800 cops to secure Makati rally

MANILA, Philippines – At least 800 anti-riot policemen would secure the protest rally to be staged tomorrow by the opposition and various militant groups opposing the amendment of the Constitution in Makati City.

Metro police director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales said organizers and leaders promised to abide by the rules and guidelines prescribed in their permit.

Rosales said Mayor Jejomar Binay issued a permit for the protest rally from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. along Ayala Avenue.

Southern Police District director Chief Superintendent Jaime Calungsud met yesterday with the city administrator and rally leaders at the city hall compound. Binay was not at the meeting.

Calungsud said rally leaders demanded that military and police intelligence agents refrain from infiltrating their ranks, a move that could trigger violence.

Rosales said the first line of defense for tomorrow’s rally would be the contingent of 100 anti-riot policemen from Makati City and the 40 security guards of the Ayala group of companies.

The Metro police director tasked Calungsud to augment the Makati City police with 400 anti-riot cops while the remaining 300 would come from the four other police districts.

The rally leaders claimed they expect tens of thousands of Filipinos opposing the amendment of the Constitution to turn up in the rally, including politicians.

Calungsud told rally leaders that the police will maintain maximum tolerance and respect human rights in dealing with their protest action, but vowed to disperse the protesters should the rally go beyond 8 p.m. – Non Alquitran