The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has raised its alert status in anticipation of a large-scale rally on September 21, coinciding with the anniversary of martial law declared by the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
Authorities are preparing for potential unrest, fueled by mounting public outrage over alleged corruption in government flood control projects.
Despite concerns, NCRPO spokesperson Major Hazel Asilo assured the public that no violence is expected.
“Based sa monitoring, wala tayong inaasahan na kaguluhan or karasahan kagaya ng inaasahan or ‘yung takot na nararamdaman natin kasi nga may mga napapanood tayo sa social media dahil sa nangyari sa ibang bansa, sa Nepal, sa Indonesia kung saan naging marahas sila, may mga pagsusunog at may mga karahasan at may mga namatay,” NCRPO spokesperson Major Hazel Asilo said.
(Based on our monitoring, we don’t foresee any unrest or violence similar to what we’ve seen on social media from other countries like Nepal and Indonesia, where protests turned deadly.)
While protesters will not be prohibited from wearing masks—reportedly to conceal their identities—police reminded rallyists to refrain from bringing firearms, bladed weapons, or engaging in vandalism.
On Friday, September 12, the Philippine National Police (PNP) bolstered its presence across Metro Manila as thousands joined the Black Friday protest demanding transparency and accountability.
The PNP increased its deployment from 2,025 to 2,500 personnel, with 950 officers assigned to key protest sites and the rest on standby for rapid response.
PNP spokesperson Brigadier General Randulf Tuaño reported that, as of Friday morning, no major disruptions or large protest groups had been observed.
“So far, we haven’t seen any significant unrest or large-scale demonstrations,” he said.
At the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman in Quezon City, over 3,000 students and employees walked out of classes and offices to join the protest, according to the Philippine Collegian.
Many wore black shirts and hurled mud at a tarpaulin featuring President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and resigned Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan.
Meanwhile, around 100 members of the Bunyog Party gathered outside the Senate Building in Pasay City.
They displayed a tarpaulin with images of Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva—both linked to alleged anomalies in the flood control controversy—and pelted it with eggs.
Despite these acts of protest, Tuaño described the Black Friday demonstrations as generally peaceful.
“The PNP guarantees respect for the public’s freedom of expression, especially for authorized peaceful assemblies,” he said, adding that officers were instructed to exercise maximum tolerance while ensuring that no laws are violated.
