Metro police to zoom in on rally vs Cha-cha with CCTVs

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) will be using closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems to monitor mass demonstrations on Wednesday against Charter change through constituent assembly, which is being pushed by administration allies in the House of Representatives. Metro Manila police head Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales announced the plan early Monday. "We will be covering this (rally) with video footage including CCTV, para mai-record natin lahat ng kaganapan before and during the conduct of the rally [so we can record what happens before and during the conduct of the rally]," Rosales said in an interview on dzXL radio. Several groups from the militant and religious sectors, the opposition, and civil society are expected to converge along Paseo de Roxas Avenue in Makati City to attend the rally. Artists, musicians, and anti-charter change senators are also expected to take part in the activity. The Makati City Police said the local government’s 11 CCTV cameras will be used to keep watch on the activities on Wednesday. Chief Inspector Albert Barot, operations chief of the Makati City police, said the cameras are controlled by city hall employees, who in turn coordinate with officers in case trouble breaks out. “Hindi kami komportable diyan kasi kapag sinabing CCTV may idea na spying [We are uncomfortable with the idea of using CCTV cameras. It’s like spying on us]. That’s intrusive," Bayan Secretary General Renato Reyes told GMANews.TV. The militant leader expressed fears that CCTV cameras could be used to identify and keep track of people organizing the rallies and “kung sino ang nagli-leader-leaderan." But Reyes asserted that the CCTV cameras will not reveal anything new, saying, “Wala kaming itinatago at ikinahihiya [We are neither hiding nor ashamed of anything]. They can watch us all they want." GMANews.TV tried to contact the Southern Police District (SPD) to get further details on the use of CCTV cameras in other cities outside Makati City, but no one was immediately available to comment on the matter. The SPD is in charge of the entire security plan that would be carried out in Metro Manila for the Wednesday protest actions. Meanwhile, the military has started monitoring groups, including its own soldiers, that may join Wednesday's rally in Makati City. Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr. said Monday they are monitoring "almost all sectors" on what they are planning to do. "We are now monitoring almost all sectors, even ang sariling ranks natin, for any groups or any individuals na maaaring sumama dito sa mga ganitong mga actions, especially dito sa internal namin," Brawner said in an interview on dzXL radio. [We are monitoring almost all sectors joining such actions, especially those within our ranks.] Earlier, Philippine National Police spokesman Senior Superintendent Leonardo Espina made a similar call to the police not to join Wednesday's rally. “Meron kaming regulations. Being government servicemen and employees 'di kami pupuwedeng sumama sa rallies na ganyan [We have regulations barring policemen from joining such political rallies]," Espina said in an interview on dzXL radio. Brawner reminded soldiers not to join such actions, saying the military has "to remain nonpartisan." "Yun ang sinusulong ng ating bagong Chief of Staff, si Gen. Ibrado. Lahat na sundalo natin shall remain professional at dapat mag-focus sa trabaho namin [That is the order of our chief of staff. Lt. Gen. Victor Ibrado. All soldiers are to remain professional and focus on their work]," he said. Meanwhile, Mayor Alfredo Lim has declared Manila as an “open city" on Wednesday but only for protesters against Cha-cha through constituent assembly (con-ass). Lim warned the Manila Police District (MPD) against dispersing protesters, saying authorities should respect the right of protesters to assemble and air their grievances. However, the Manila police will still secure Malacañang and nearby Mendiola Bridge on the day of the rally. Radio dzBB’s Carlo Mateo reported that this was the order of acting MPD Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay for Wednesday’s rally. Magtibay said anti-riot police would be deployed to Mendiola to prevent militant groups from holding lightning rallies there. Lim said that although Manila has been declared an open city on Wednesday, rules for protest movements at the Don Chino Roces (formerly Mendiola) Bridge would still be observed. This means participants would still be unable to set foot on the historic site since rallies are only allowed there during holidays or weekends. The policy also seeks to prevent rallies from disrupting traffic and classes in nearby schools during weekdays. Reyes welcomed Lim’s declaration of Manila as an open city on Wednesday. “We are glad that Mayor Lim has taken a clear stand on the issue," Reyes told GMANews.TV over the phone. Bayan said simultaneous protest actions would be staged in Dagupan, Laguna, Bacolod, and Iloilo. Character actors “Juana Change" and “Pacquito Yu" will be performing a comedy skit, while national artist Bienvenido Lumbera will be reciting a new version of the “Panatang Makabayan." Organizers of Wednesday’s rally have been encouraging commuters to turn up in the rally by giving leaflets to passengers of the Metro Rail Transit in a number of stations along EDSA. Magtibay said he has ordered tighter monitoring of key facilities in the city, including the United States Embassy, Supreme Court and Department of Justice. with reporting by Mark Merueñas, GMANews.TV