Metro Manila, Philippines – Officers may arrest protesters who will call for a military-backed reset in the so-called “Trillion Peso March” on Sunday, Nov. 30, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said, calling such pronouncements as illegal.
“Pwede sa tingin ko ha. Pwedeng hulihin. I mean, it’s illegal. It’s an indirect way. It’s an artful way, if any prosecutor naman is listening, of saying what you are not allowed to say. Pero nasa pulis na ‘yun,” the defense chief said on Friday, Nov. 28.
[Translation: I think it’s possible. They can be arrested. I mean, it’s illegal. It’s an indirect way. It’s an artful way, if any prosecutor is listening, of saying what you are not allowed to say. But that’s up to the police.]
He said calls for “withdrawal of support and reset” are “destabilizing” and that airing outrage against corruption is different.
“That’s (calling for reset) totally illegal. That’s inciting to sedition. What you cannot do directly, you cannot do indirectly in the law.” the secretary said.
He said those withdrawing support are indirectly insinuating that they want to “take over,” which he said counts as incitement to sedition.
However, Teodoro said the police have been instructed to apply maximum tolerance on the protesters.
Full alert
Meanwhile, Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the Metropolitan Manila police force has been placed on “full alert” for “maximum presence and proper deployment” on Sunday.
She said more than 15,000 police personnel will be deployed for the gathering.
At the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Teodoro said the government is preparing ambulances and emergency services.
He said the OCD is prepared for “any contingency, not necessarily a violent one.”
The rally organizers said they aim to raise the stakes against corruption and political dynasties, but will not seek the resignation of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte.
