Pro-Marcos marchers allowed near Bongbong inauguration

Supporters of President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will be allowed to go near the National Museum during his inauguration on Thursday, a spokesman for the Manila Police District has said.

According to Emil Sumangil’s report on “24 Oras”, MPD Public Information Office chief Police Major Philipp Ines said the pro-Marcos rallyists may gather near the golf course in Intramuros.

“Mayroon lugar na inilaan para sa kanila at nandito ‘yun sa area ng Intramuros. Ma-ca-cater natin diyan siguro ay mahigit kumulang ay 200,000,” Ines said.

(There is a place reserved for them and it is here in the Intramuros area. We can cater for about 200,000 people.)

PNP director for operations Police Major General Valeriano de Leon earlier said that they have designated Plaza Miranda, Plaza Dilao, and Liwasang Bonifacio for protesters without permits to stage a rally during the inauguration.

With the designation of the freedom parks, De Leon is hopeful that protesters will no longer assemble near the National Museum.

MPD director Police Brigadier General Leo Francisco, meanwhile, said that rallyists who will become unruly during the inauguration will be arrested.

“Kapag sila ay naging unruly at naging cause na ng disturbance sa activities ng ating mga mamamayan, cause yan para pagsabihan sila at kung hindi pa sila madala sa pakiusap, magkakaroon tayo ng arestuhin,” Francisco said.

(If they become unruly and cause disturbance in the activities of the public, we will warn them and if they do not listen, we will arrest them.)

The PNP said over 15,000 security personnel would be deployed to secure the Marcos inauguration. —Mel Matthew Doctor/NB, GMA News