A
spokesman for the Philippine National Police (PNP) warned yesterday that the police
will be forced to "move in" if participators of the Church-initiated
prayer rally become unruly.
"If
the situation requires... once a public assembly becomes violent the police will
have to move in," Senior Superintendent Samuel Pagdilao Jr., PNP spokesman,
told ABS-CBN's Magandang Umaga Pilipinas.
He
said the police will move in accordance with existing laws or The Public Assembly
Act of 1985.
Pagdilao
said a contingent of Civil Disturbance Management (CDM) policemen will be deployed
around Rizal Park (formerly Luneta Park) in Manila to "ensure the safety
of the participants."
He
urged left-wing activists who will attend the prayer rally to respect the bishops'
inclination by not waving political streamers during the event.
He
made assurances that left-wing activists who are planning to bring political streamers
will not be immediately arrested.
"Well,
if its a violation of their agreement [with the Catholic Bishops Conference of
the Philippines (CBCP)], we will ask them not to bring out the streamers or confiscate
them because it's a violation of the agreement," Pagdilao said.
The
police spokesman also clarified that policemen were not advised to join the prayer
rally. He said policemen will be deployed to Rizal Park on Sunday as requested
by CBCP.
Pagdilao
mentioned during the interview, the call made by Novaliches Bishop Antonio Tobias.
"The request came directly from [CBCP] for the presence of the PNP to provide
security for the participants of the prayer rally."
Catholic
groups, headed by CBCP, moved to Sunday a massive prayer rally against a House-led
initiative to change the Charter through a constituent assembly. The prayer rally
was originally scheduled for Friday but due to conflicts in the venue reservation,
the groups decided to move the gathering to December 17.
Among
the organizers of the prayer vigil are the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible
Voting, the Catholic Education Association of the Philippines and the El Shaddai
Movement.
CBCP
said anti-Charter change rallies in the provinces will proceed as planned on Friday.
Organizers
said they expect at least 500,000 people to attend the Sunday gathering. At least
1,000 police officers will be deployed in Rizal Park during the rally.
Bro.
Mike Velarde, founder and leader of the El Shaddai Movement, said the rally will
start at 3 p.m. He said rally organizers will ban political speeches and political
streamers during the gathering.
Politicians
and celebrities who will attend the prayer rally will not be allowed onstage,
he added. | 
