By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA, Philippines — More than 17,000 police officers have been deployed since Saturday night as authorities prepare for nationwide rallies marking the 54th anniversary of martial law, with additional forces on standby and body cameras assigned to personnel covering the demonstrations.
The Philippine National Police said Sunday the deployment was part of security preparations for assemblies in Manila and other parts of the country.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. urged protesters to follow rules and respect the rights of others while reminding police to avoid violence.
“We urge protesters to obey the rules, follow the instructions of our law enforcers, and respect each other’s rights to prevent any disorder. Let’s make this day sensible and safe,” Nartatez said.
The heightened security follows last year’s disorder in Mendiola, where an anticorruption rally turned violent, leaving one person dead, hundreds injured and at least 216 arrested.
Manila suspended in-person classes Monday following a recommendation from the Manila Police District, Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said.
About 1,000 students and young people marched Sunday from La Salle Greenhills to the Edsa Shrine, demanding stronger action against corruption, impunity and political dynasties.
Khylla Meneses, Akbayan Youth national chair and lead convener of Youth Against Kurakot, said arrests alone would not be enough.
“Arresting a few people and filing cases [are] not enough. We need to see this fight through, hold all corrupt individuals accountable, recover every peso stolen from the people, and dismantle the system that enriches a few while making life harder for the majority,” Meneses said.
Akbayan said young Filipinos would continue organizing against corruption.
“Gen Z will never forget. We will continue to organize. And we will come back again and again to this place to finish the fight,” the group said.
Bayan said the protests also reflect continuing concerns over corruption, poverty, human rights violations and alleged misuse of public funds, including the issues raised during last year’s Trillion Peso March.
“As our people suffer from perennial flooding despite billions supposedly spent on flood control, we are once more witnesses to wholesale graft and corruption at the highest levels of government,” Bayan said.
A “Mass of Hope” led by San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza is scheduled at 1 p.m. at San Agustin Church in Intramuros, organized by One Faith, One Nation, One Voice.
The United Church of Christ in the Philippines has urged its members to join the gathering before participants proceed to Liwasang Bonifacio for a multisectoral rally organized by Kilusang Bayan Kontra Kurakot.
Bayan-led protests are also planned in Baguio City, Abra, Legazpi City, Calamba, Santa Rosa, Bacoor and Lucena, as well as Iloilo, Bacolod, Tacloban, Roxas, Kalibo and Davao City.
At 5 p.m., the Buhay ang People Power Campaign Network will lead a candle-lighting ceremony at Bantayog ng mga Bayani in Quezon City, with the August Twenty-One Movement participating.
The group cited estimates that about 70,000 people were illegally arrested, 34,000 tortured and 3,240 killed during martial law under then President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
Martial law was enforced on Sept. 22, 1972, and announced by Marcos the following day. The declaration was antedated to Sept. 21, the date subsequently used for its commemoration.
The August Twenty-One Movement also called for the reopening or retrial of Imelda Marcos’ graft cases where legally possible, greater transparency in their handling and a full accounting of Marcos-era ill-gotten wealth.
Malacañang said the government would not prevent Filipinos from expressing their views during the assemblies but appealed for peaceful demonstrations.
“The President is not preventing or restricting our fellow Filipinos from expressing their sentiments at these assemblies,” Palace press officer Claire Castro said.
“But there is no need for violence, physical harm, or for any of our fellow citizens to lose their lives because our President listens to every concern raised by our people,” she added.
ia/xf
