The Philippine National Police (PNP) will deploy 6,000 police personnel to guard several groups to commemorate the EDSA People Power Revolution set to happen on Sunday, February 25.
In an interview on DZRH radio program Rapido Hataw Balita on Saturday, PNP spokesperson PCol. Jean Fajardo said that the PNP would monitor the People Power Monument in Barangay Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, as well as Edsa Shrine Corner Ortigas Ave., Ortigas Center in Quezon City.
"May mga naka-deploy na tayong mga pulis hindi lamang po dito sa Maynila pati na rin sa ibang rehiyon. So far relatively peaceful naman po yung mga activities today," she noted.
Fajardo also mentioned that the local government of Quezon City permitted two groups of protesters who are expected to converge for the event.
In Edsa Shrine, protesters will start their program from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Rallyists at the People Power Monument will conduct a concert starting at 11 p.m.
Fajardo noted that the PNP will exercise "maximum tolerance" for the said rally as it respects people's freedom of expression.
"Palagi po natin 'yan pinapapaalala sa mga pulis natin na nakadeploy na, to exercise maximum tolerance, hayaan natin yung mga kababayan nating magpahayag ng kanilang saloobin," the spokesperson said.
"Pero ang lagi nating pakiusap sa kanila ay sumunod din po sa mga itinatakda na mga batas lalong lalo na po yung mga nabigyan ng permit," she added.
Meanwhile, Fajardo said the PNP will also deploy 2,000 personnel in Region 7, particularly at the Kasadya sa SRP in Cebu City, wherein a prayer rally will be conducted.
It can be recalled that President Marcos Jr. did not include the EDSA People Power anniversary in the list of holidays for 2024.
The Office of the President opted not to include the event as a holiday due to the “minimal socio-economic impact of declaring this day a special non-working holiday.”
