The Philippine National Police (PNP) deployed close to 15,000 personnel to secure activities marking the 40th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution on Wednesday.
Police officials said they expected around 40,000 participants to attend various commemorative events linked to the historic uprising.
Brig. Gen. Ponce Rogelio Peñones, the newly appointed police director for operations, said the deployment focused on preventing groups seeking to provoke disorder during the gatherings.
In a press briefing at Camp Crame, he explained hat authorities were closely monitoring groups believed to be attempting to incite unrest, adding that maintaining peace was the primary objective of the police presence.
The police earlier said that only three groups were granted permits by the Quezon City government to hold rallies along White Plains Avenue near the People Power Monument.
Peñones said several other groups applied for permits but were denied due to alleged violations committed during previous protest activities, based on assessments by local government units.
Despite this, he said police officers were instructed by PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. to exercise maximum tolerance, noting that groups without permits would not be immediately dispersed and that negotiations would be pursued on the ground.
In a separate interview, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin said burning effigies would not be allowed during rallies as it would violate local ordinances and existing laws. He later inspected security deployments at key sites along EDSA to ensure readiness.
