By Benny Reyes
MANILA – The Philippine National Police will mobilize nearly 11,500 police personnel to secure the Trillion Peso March and its related activities later this month, as authorities prepare for large crowds and heightened public gatherings.
PNP chief Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. said the extensive deployment reflects the police force’s commitment to safeguarding the public while upholding the right to peaceful assembly.
The scheduled prayer and indignation rallies on February 22 and 25 are expected to draw about 50,000 participants.
“Our responsibility is to make sure that Filipinos can freely express their views and gather peacefully in a safe environment,” Nartatez said, stressing that the police will maintain a visible and responsive presence throughout the events. He also called on the public to cooperate with authorities, noting that public safety remains the PNP’s top priority.
To ensure smooth coordination, the PNP will convene a conference next week with event organizers to process permits and finalize security and traffic plans.
Nartatez further urged rally participants to observe safety guidelines to help ensure an orderly and incident-free commemoration of the People Power legacy.
The security operation will be carried out under the Enhanced Managing Police Operations (EMPO) framework of the PNP Focused Agenda, with major police districts in Metro Manila providing the bulk of personnel. These include the Quezon City, Manila, Southern, Northern, and Eastern Police Districts.
Additional support will come from regional headquarters units, intelligence and mobile force elements, the Special Action Force, and specialized teams such as highway patrol, explosive ordnance disposal and canine units, communications, and medical personnel.
Police officials said the large-scale deployment is aimed at ensuring effective crowd management, traffic flow, emergency readiness, and continuous monitoring of public safety throughout the scheduled activities. /ia
