PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Guillermo Eleazar on Tuesday, July 27, 2021, said the protest actions related to President Rodrigo Duterte’s final State of the Nation Address (Sona) were generally peaceful.
No untoward incident was recorded during the activities on Monday, July 26, 2021.
“I am glad that reason prevailed over these groups to peacefully disperse or call off their activities altogether. The best interest of public health and safety, and the rule of law spoke louder than the political undertones of these mass actions in the streets,” he said.
“I am thankful to the organizers and leaders of these public assemblies for heeding our call for sobriety and cooperation with police units on the ground for peaceful and orderly outcome of activities,” he added.
Eleazar said over 3,000 members of cause-oriented groups took part in the protest actions.
There was a brief confrontation between the police and the militant group leaders after the cops blocked the unity march toward Commonwealth Avenue for the culmination of the event.
It was resolved immediately and the protesters peacefully dispersed at around 4 p.m. Monday.
Eleazar said Police Regional Offices in key cities reported similar activities, but these did not cause any major public disturbance. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)