Cebu City cops all set for Independence Day

CEBU, Philippines —  Ahead of the country’s 123rd Independence Day celebration tomorrow, personnel of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) are deployed to monitor possible rallyists.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Wilbert Parilla, CCPO deputy director for operations, said the city cops are monitoring Fuente Osmeña – a park in the middle of a roundabout, Gaisano Metro, and Plaza Independencia.

These are where rallysists usually converge.

“CCPO will also provide maximum deployment of police officers and civil disturbance management (CDM) for mass protests in all places of engagement to ensure peace and order during the occasion,” said Parilla.

Parilla said all security measures are already in place for the celebration.

City cops, particularly the CDM platoon, are instructed to provide security measures to ensure the peaceful conduct of Independence Day rites.

The usual activities for the celebration include simultaneous flag raising ceremonies in various parts of the country and job fairs, among others.

“Beginning yesterday, naa na nay nag-standby nga CDM platoon just in case dunay mag-rally nga modaghan and then if it needs to be dispersed. Naa tay platoon nga mo-react in case needed,” said Parilla.

“In fact, karon (yesterday) naay nag rally around 40 from Gaisano Metro, Juan Luna St., going to the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Regional Office on Osmeña Boulevard,” he added.

He said protesters need to acquire a permit to hold a rally or protest action.

He said protesters will be given enough time to air their views and plights before they will be asked to disperse.

He added that cops will exercise maximum tolerance and will enforce the minimum health protocols, such as social distancing so as not to put themselves, their families and the public in great health risk.

Rule 25 of the Revised PNP Operational Procedures, a public document, touches on rallies and demonstrations and says that police are instructed to observe maximum tolerance in all dispersal operations as far as rallies and demonstrations are concerned.

Section 25.4(d) of the rule says: “No arrest of any leader, organizer, or participant shall be made unless he violates during the assembly a law, statute, or ordinance,” while 25.9 says: “Respect for human rights and equal treatment and protection for everybody shall be strictly observed; and PNP personnel shall observe maximum tolerance.” — Dominic I. Dilao, UV Comm Intern, KQD (FREEMAN)