Amid mounting controversy over alleged massive corruption in the government’s multi-billion peso flood control projects, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has assured the public of its preparedness to respond to any potential civil unrest, similar to recent events in other Southeast Asian nations.
While current security assessments indicate no imminent threat of violent demonstrations, acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez, Jr. emphasized that authorities are closely monitoring developments and have contingency measures in place.
“We already have our security plan for dispersal, crowd management, and overall security,” Nartatez said.
In recent days, violent protests erupted in Nepal, driven by public outrage—particularly among youth—over widespread corruption allegations involving government officials.
Reports indicate at least 30 fatalities and over 1,000 injuries. Meanwhile, Indonesia has also seen protest actions over controversial allowances granted to lawmakers, sparking public anger amid persistent social inequality and unemployment concerns.
On Thursday, September 11, around 200 demonstrators gathered at the EDSA Shrine, demanding accountability for the alleged irregularities in the flood control projects.
Despite these regional developments, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla expressed confidence that similar violent protests are unlikely to occur in the Philippines. (Aaron Recuenco)
