Friday, February 29, 2008 Police assure maximum tolerance for protesters
PROTESTERS in Davao City won't get unwarranted beatings from the police for as long as they remain peaceful and won't obstruct the flow of traffic.
"We respect their right to protest and air their grievance, but it must be done in a manner that is peaceful," Chief Superintendent Andres Caro II, Police Regional Office 11 director, said in an interview Wednesday.
Caro is, however, confident that rallies and mass actions in the city will be free from violence.
"Davao City has no history of violence during protest rallies," Caro said.
"Maximum tolerance will be employed by our officers in dealing with protesters," Caro added.
"But still, the groups must police their own ranks to ensure that no infiltrators will disrupt and provoke violence," Caro said.
A nationwide gun ban is currently in effect due to reported threats to national security. Caro cited the possibility of armed elements of the communist rebel group infiltrating the rallies and protest actions in the city. (CPM)
