The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) announced Tuesday it will deploy up to 14,000 police officers to secure the upcoming 40th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution on February 25.
NCRPO Director Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin confirmed the figure during a press briefing, noting that the deployment scale is consistent with previous large-scale demonstrations in the capital.
“This scheduled rally on Feb. 25, we’re gonna prepare for it even more,” Aberin told reporters. “Our deployment is just the same. In past rallies, it’s around 13,000 to 14,000 personnel.”
The milestone 40th anniversary comes as the government officially designated the date as a “special working day” under Proclamation No. 1006, signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
While not a public holiday, the police are preparing for significant gatherings and potential protest actions at key sites, including the EDSA Shrine and the People Power Monument.
The security plan focuses on crowd management and maintaining peace and order during the various commemorative activities expected across Metro Manila.
The NCRPO’s announcement follows a high-alert period for the police force, which recently mobilized similar numbers for the Feast of the Black Nazarene earlier this month.
Authorities stated that the deployment would be flexible, with the final number of officers on the ground potentially adjusting based on real-time intelligence reports and the scale of the planned gatherings.