THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has raised its security status and placed key units across the country on heightened alert as the Senate prepares to convene as an Impeachment Court to hear the case against Vice President Sara Duterte this coming Monday.
PNP chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. issued the directive covering Metro Manila and major regional offices, anticipating a surge in public gatherings, rallies, and protest actions connected to the historic proceedings. This preemptive measure aims to secure critical areas and ensure that the political process proceeds without disruption or untoward incidents.
General Nartatez emphasized that the primary objective of the police presence is to maintain peace and order, especially given the high emotions expected from both supporters and critics of the vice president.
“The goal is always to ensure that all activities will start and end peacefully. We expect high emotions from the supporters and this is the part when police presence is needed to maintain peace and order,” Nartatez stated in his official announcement. He assured the public that security measures are designed to uphold the constitutional rights of citizens to assemble while strictly enforcing laws to prevent violence, harassment, or any act that may escalate tensions.
Security deployments have been significantly reinforced in strategic locations, particularly around the Senate building and other government facilities identified as possible convergence points for rallies and demonstrations. Authorities are also closely monitoring Davao City, a known stronghold of the Duterte family, where mass actions are similarly anticipated.
The police force is drawing lessons from recent events, including the tense standoff and security breach involving Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, where the Senate was placed on lockdown, gunshots were reported within the premises, and the senator eventually managed to escape despite being under protective custody amid an outstanding international arrest warrant.
That recent incident highlighted vulnerabilities in securing legislative facilities during high‑profile legal cases, prompting the PNP to review and strengthen its operational protocols.
With memories of the chaos surrounding Dela Rosa’s departure still fresh, law enforcement agencies are taking no chances, ensuring that access control, crowd management, and intelligence monitoring are at their highest levels. As the nation turns its attention to the Senate, the PNP reaffirmed its commitment to neutrality and professionalism, vowing to protect the integrity of the impeachment process and safeguard the safety of all individuals involved, from officials to ordinary citizens exercising their democratic rights.
