PNP warns vs. unruly protests during ASEAN Summit

MANILA — The Philippine National Police warned it may disperse protesters during the upcoming ASEAN Summit if they violate the rights of other people or threaten public safety.

PNP Public Information Office chief Police BGen. Allen Rae Co said authorities recognize the constitutional right to peaceful assembly but stressed that it has limits.

“When you infringe on other people’s rights, when you trample on other people’s rights, it ceases or stops to be a peaceful exercise of that right. So we will disperse them,” Co said.

His remarks came after Bagong Alyansang Makabayan vowed to follow US President Donald Trump from his hotel to Malacañang and other places he would visit while in Manila for the ASEAN Summit.

The national democratic activist alliance said it intends to make Trump feel unwelcome in the country and remind him that he should be kicked out. 

“This is very clear and very obvious naman na kailangan natin proteksyunan, presidente of another sovereign country. Hindi naman masasabi natin threat pero medyo may ano doon na susundan nila. For what purpose?” Co said.

(It is very clear and obvious that we have to protect the president of another sovereign country. We’re not saying it’s a threat but if they say they will follow him… for what purpose?)

He said protesters may express their sentiments through other platforms but should not engage in actions that could cause undue inconvenience or pose a threat to others.

Co said police personnel would exercise maximum tolerance and would not initiate any confrontation. 

The PNP will place the National Capital Region Police Office, Police Regional Offices 3 in Central Luzon and 4A in Calabarzon, and its headquarters in Camp Crame on full alert from November 13 to 19.

Co said the neighboring regions were included because they had deployed personnel to augment security operations in Metro Manila.

He said the alert in the provinces “will fill the gap that was left by those [augmenting] NCRPO.”

The PNP is also preparing for an expected increase in travelers during the extended holiday break coinciding with the ASEAN Summit.

PNP chief PGen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. directed police regional offices to intensify patrols and police visibility in airports, seaports, bus terminals, highways, and tourist destinations from November 14 to 18.