PNP chief Marbil orders maximum tolerance but with limit for SONA protesters

Maximum tolerance will be observed as protesters converge along Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, Philippine National Police chief Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil said.

However, Marbil said that it will have a “limit” as he won’t allow police personnel to be hurt while securing the event.

“We follow maximum tolerance pero may limit. 'Yan ang guidance ko. Never again na sasaktan ang pulis na basta-basta,” he told police personnel in formation through a megaphone.

(We follow maximum tolerance but there will be a limit. That is my guidance. Police personnel should never again be hurt.)

Marbil made the statement while conducting an inspection of PNP personnel deployed on Commonwealth Avenue and IBP Road.

According to Marbil, the police will file a case if an officer gets hurt managing the protest.

The PNP chief earlier said around 22,000 police personnel will be deployed to secure the SONA.

Bayan and other groups earlier said they will conduct protest actions around the Commonwealth Avenue-Tandang Sora Avenue area.

Police personnel will ensure protesters stay in their designated areas in case they attempt to get near Batasan Complex, according to the PNP.

In an ambush interview, Marbil said he ordered the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) to prohibit the burning of effigies.

“Wala pong exemption sa batas. 'Yun lang naman ang katotohanan. Hindi ka puwede magsunog, [baka] kung ano 'yung mangyari. Kaya nga tayo may pollution law e,” Marbil said.

(There is no exemption from the law. That's just the truth. You can't burn because something might happen. That's why we have a pollution law.)

“I ordered the NCRPO na siguraduhin na huwag nang magsusunog. Kung magsunog sila hindi tayo makalapit. Just file cases against these people,” he added.

(I ordered the NCRPO to make sure that there is no more burning. If they set something on fire, we can't get close. We will just file cases against these people.)

At around 8 a.m. Monday, Bayan Southern Tagalog burned an effigy of Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte along Commonwealth Avenue.

Marbil also said the PNP has prepared contingency plans on security measures for SONA but he said he cannot divulge this information. —KG, GMA Integrated News