The Manila Times
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday (April 30) announced full alert status deploying 106,633 police persoonel as part of heighting its security measures for the upcoming Labor Day protests on Friday (May 1). The PNP earlier said it would only be increasing security measures to “heightened alert” in anticipation of protest action but Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño, PNP Public Information chief said the police force is now going on “full alert.” “PNP Chief General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. decided that all units must cancel their leaves so that, if we need to deploy them, they’re there. We’d be able to deploy more easily,” Tuaño said. Nonetheless, the PNP has yet to monitor a security threat for Labor Day, he said. The full alert level status came into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, April 30, and will lapse at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, May 2. Tuaño however noted that the full alert level status would only be lifted in Central Visayas at 11:59 p.m. on May 10 for security preparations for the 48th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu. Tuaño earlier said at least three groups applied for permits to rally at the United States Embassy in Manila, University of the Philippines Diliman, Welcome Rotunda and the Department of Social Welfare and Development office in Quezon City. But the PNP is yet to receive confirmation from respective local government units (LGUs) that the groups have been given greenlight. “If they are not granted a permit, we will consider their applications approved after three days,” Tuaño said. According to the PNP spokesman, applications had been filed with respective LGUs last Monday, April 27. If the PNP’s three-day rule were to be applied, the rally permit applications would be deemed on Labor Day on Friday, May 1, he clarified. Labor and sectoral groups Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), All Workers Unit and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan are expected to march to Mendiola on Friday to mark this year’s Labor Day.
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