ILOILO City – Anticipating one of the biggest mass protests in recent years, the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) has declared full readiness for the November 30 anti-corruption rally, where up to 20,000 participants are expected to flood major city thoroughfares.
ICPO spokesperson Police Major Shella Mae Sangrines said the police force is at “100 percent preparedness” to secure the mobilization organized by the Kahublagan Kontra Korapsyon (KKK), which comes just two months after a 15,000-strong protest at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol.
“We are fully prepared for this mobilization. Our deployment plan is in place and our personnel are ready on the ground,” Sangrines said, noting that the projected crowd size is significantly larger than the September 21 demonstration. “We anticipate a bigger turnout compared to the September 21 protest, so we strengthened our deployment of uniformed and civilian security officers.”
A total of 200 ICPO personnel will be stationed at key areas such as Jaro Plaza, Iznart Street, and the Iloilo Provincial Capitol grounds. Reinforcement has also arrived, with 50 operatives from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 6 deployed to augment city forces.
Sangrines said ICPO will combine foot patrols with intensified intelligence monitoring.
“We will have personnel in uniform and personnel in civilian attire roaming the area to immediately respond to any incident. Ang target gid namon, safe kag matawhay ang tanang participants,” she added.
The Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit is likewise on heightened alert. “In case there are bomb threats or suspicious items, our EOD team is ready to respond immediately. Indi namon pag-islan ang seguridad,” she stressed.
ICPO believes close coordination with rally organizers will help ensure a peaceful event.
“We are coordinating closely with the focal persons of the groups. Ginklaro namon sa ila ang rules and guidelines, and we trust that they will comply,” Sangrines said.
The rally is expected to draw support from church groups and multi-sectoral organizations. Assembly areas will open at 1 p.m. at Jaro Plaza and the University of the Philippines–Visayas Iloilo campus, with protestors marching toward the Iloilo Provincial Capitol at 3 p.m. for a short program.
“This is a major event, and we want to ensure that people can exercise their right to peaceful assembly without fear,” Sangrines said. “Ang importante, tanan safe kag husto ang dalagan sang rally.”/PN
