By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Monday said it continues to validate reports of a supposed threat against the Senate while maintaining an elevated security posture to ensure preparedness should any danger materialize.
NCRPO Director Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin said police forces have already increased their deployment levels as a precautionary measure despite the absence of confirmed intelligence regarding the alleged threat.
“Whether or not there is a threat, our deployment is enhanced so that, if the threat is confirmed, we are already at a level where our deployment is appropriate for that kind of threat,” Aberin told reporters at Camp Crame.
He emphasized that authorities remain vigilant and are continuing intelligence-gathering efforts to determine the credibility of the information received.
“We’re not being complacent. Our validation and monitoring remain ongoing. Who knows? Maybe our validation will yield results later or tomorrow,” he added.
The reported threat surfaced amid growing political tensions in the Senate following a leadership dispute that erupted earlier this month. On June 3, a 12-member bloc moved to remove Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano and installed Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate president pro tempore and acting Senate president.
Despite the leadership shakeup, senators aligned with Cayetano proceeded with a public hearing involving 18 alleged bagmen linked to former congressman Zaldy Co in connection with the ongoing flood control corruption controversy.
Last week, Gatchalian disclosed that information regarding a possible threat to the Senate had emerged in relation to the testimony of the alleged intermediaries.
In anticipation of possible security concerns during the Independence Day celebration, the NCRPO deployed approximately 16,000 personnel and established security barriers in strategic areas of Manila, including locations near Malacañang Palace.
The security measures were implemented amid reports that groups sympathetic to former president Rodrigo Duterte could stage large-scale protest actions in the capital.
Aberin defended the deployment, saying the number of personnel and security preparations were consistent with standard operating procedures during major public demonstrations.
“Actually, in every scheduled rally, that’s our deployment. We placed steel barriers and everything so there would be no agitation and friction between the rallyists and our police,” he said.
The Philippine National Police has previously maintained that it has not received verified intelligence confirming any plan by Duterte-aligned groups to storm government facilities or carry out disruptive activities.
Authorities said security monitoring and threat assessment operations remain in effect as investigations continue.
ia/xf
