THE Civil Disturbance Unit of the Philippine National Police (PNP) said it will not hesitate to use water cannons against rallyists during the first State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.
But PNP Officer-in-Charge Police Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao, Jr. clarified that they will only do that when absolutely necessary or if the rallyists become uncontrollable or if they will violate the law.
Danao explained it will be a last resort since they do not plan to use force as much as possible.
That is why he explained that dialogues between the police and the leaders of the militant groups to ensure that their protest actions during the SONA are organized and peaceful.
Danao reiterated that the police who will be deployed during the SONA will observe maximum tolerance.
The PNP earlier identified and designated the Quezon Memorial Circle, the Commission on Human Rights compound, and inside the UP Diliman Campus as freedom parks where the rallyists can hold their protest actions on Monday.