NCRPO on full alert ahead of Sept. 21 anti-corruption rallies

MANILA, Philippines – The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will be placed on full alert starting Saturday midnight as police prepare for rallies in Metro Manila condemning corruption and marking the 54th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law on Sept. 21.

In a press briefing in Camp Crame on Thursday, Philippine National Police (PNP) public information chief Col. Allen Rae Co announced the heightened security posture.

He did not specify when the full alert status would be lifted.

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The full alert status is the PNP’s highest operational readiness and security deployment, suspending all leaves for officers and requiring all personnel of the units concerned to be on standby.

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READ: NCRPO deploying over 15,000 cops to secure Sept. 21 rallies

“All CDM (civil disturbance management) personnel will not be carrying their firearms. Our body-worn cameras will be used for the said security operations,” Co maintained.

He added that the chief PNP has given directive to exercise maximum tolerance at all times and all instances during the protests.

Co further noted that the police force has yet to monitor any security threats.

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He also reminded protesters to observe ordinances banning the burning of effigies and the wearing of balaclavas and face coverings in public establishments and while dismounted from motorcycles in the City of Manila.

The PNP public information chief detailed that 15,746 police officers will be deployed for the anticipated protest-actions, particularly from the following units:

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• Manila Police District — 2,362 personnel
• Southern Police District — 1,456 personnel
• Regional Headquarters — 1,431 personnel
• Quezon City Police District — 1,369 personnel
• Eastern Police District — 1,175 personnel
• Northern Police District — 973 personnel
• Regional Mobile Force Battalion — 874 personnel
• Regional Medical and Dental Unit — 72 personnel
• Regional Highway Patrol Unit — 28 personnel
• Regional Engineering Unit — Six personnel
• Augmentation from Police Regional Offices Central Luzon and Calabarzon — 6,000 personnel

Although Co declined to detail where the officers would be positioned, citing operational matters, he noted that the PNP will be deploying a portion of its personnel to assist commuters who may be affected by the protest-actions on September 21. /dp