By Martin A. Sadongdong
The Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday announced that security preparations are “ready” for the expected mass protests in commemoration of the Labor Day today, May 1, but believes fewer people will be joining this year’s gatherings which will be organized by various labor groups.
PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said that in Metro Manila alone, around 5,000 to 10,000 cops will be deployed as civil disturbance management (CDM) contingents to ensure that the mass protests will be peaceful. This is aside from thousands more who will be fielded in the other regional and provincial police offices for other pocket rallies across the country.
“To the police on the ground, practice maximum tolerance just like what I’ve said. Let them conduct their rallies with or without permits as announced by the President,” Albayalde said.
Over the weekend, the Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa said they are teaming up with the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) to gather around 150,000 rallyist in what they described as one, if not the biggest mass protests in decades.
However, Albayalde said that based on his observation as chief of the PNP and former director of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), people are becoming less enthusiastic when it comes to participating in rallies since President Duterte came into power in 2016.
“We are not belittling the capability of the KMU [Kilusang Mayo Uno] to muster this number of protesters. But for the last few years, we have seen that lesser and lesser people are joining the protest rallies,” he said.
Last year, Albayalde recalled that only 3,000 to 5,000 persons participated in the Labor Day protest in Metro Manila.
“Although we do not expect that they will reach 15,000, we cannot take that for granted,” Albayalde added.
