LESS than 50,000 people have graced rallies held nationwide since last Saturday in the aftermath of the arrest of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte and eventual flight to The Hague in Netherlands, the Philippine National Police said.

Last Saturday, the PNP recorded 58 rallies in different parts of the country attended by a combined 26,470 people, the biggest of which was in Northern Mindanao, where around 7,250 flocked to the streets, followed by 5,700 in Western Mindanao; 5,200 in Soccsksargen region; and 4,000 in Southern Mindanao, particularly in Davao City which is a known Duterte bailiwick.

The estimated number of rallyists who went to different staging areas on the same day were monitored as follows: 2,500 in Metro Manila; 250 in Central Luzon; 570 in Mimaropa region; and 1,000 in Western Visayas.

On Sunday, the PNP monitored a total of 31 rallies nationwide, topped by 4,200 in Southern Mindanao; 3,850 in Central Visayas; 3,690 in Soccsksargen region; 2,250 in Northern Mindanao; 1,900 in Central Luzon; 600 in Western Mindanao; 500 in Metro Manila; 180 in Western Visayas; and 70 in Mimaropa region.

The PNP Public Information Office said no rallies were monitored in Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon region, Bicol region, Caraga region, Cordillera Administrative Region; and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

PNP-PIO chief Col. Randulf T. Tuaño said most of the rallies took place in Davao City, where pro-Duterte people expressed their support for the former president.

The protesters demanded the return to the country of the former president.

“Umaabot lang po ng mga isang oras, dalawang oras, nagdi-disperse naman po peacefully ‘yung mga taong nakikilahok sa mga rally kapag natapos na,” he said.

PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco D. Marbil, according to Col. Tuaño, has ordered all police units nationwide to continue monitoring the situation in their areas amid the ongoing case of Duterte at the International Criminal Court.

However, the top cop has ordered the lowering of the previous heightened alert status of the 232,000-strong police force last Thursday although he gave all his regional directors the discretion to raise their alert level depending on the prevailing situation in their areas.

Meanwhile, National Capital Region Police Office director Brig. Gen. Anthony A. Aberin said they have not monitored any security threat in Metro Manila although he called on the public to be discerning enough and avoid becoming victims of fake news.

“The NCRPO expresses its unwavering commitment to delivering a peaceful, safe and secure Metro Manila. Our stringent security measures are already established in coordination with other security agencies and contingency plans are also in place for any unusual occurrence in the security situation,” the official said.

“We maintain however that, as of now, there is no credible information monitored by our intelligence units that would suggest any form of threat in Metro Manila,” Aberin added.

The official said they are investigating a Facebook post which claim that a possible emergency situation in the metropolis is in the offing in the aftermath of the Duterte arrest.

“Recently, a post by the Facebook page “Maranao TV” was monitored, depicting an unidentified person advising residents to make preparations for a possible emergency situation in Metro Manila.

“We want to assure everyone that an in-depth validation was immediately conducted and based on latest intelligence report by various intelligence units, there is no information of any security threat that can cause security alarm in Metro Manila,” Aberin said.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon