THE National Capital Region Police Office (NCPRO) will be placed under heightened alert status to ensure the maintenance of peace and order amid possible activities related to the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
In a phone interview on Friday, March 14, 2025, NCRPO Director Brigadier General Anthony Aberin said the heightened alert will be effective by 5 p.m.
On Tuesday, March 11, the Philippine National Police (PNP) placed all its units under heightened alert as a preventive measure against any eventualities following Duterte’s arrest upon his arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 over the arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
PNP spokesperson Brigadier General Jean Fajardo said the order was lifted as of March 13, but police commanders were given the discretion to put in place security measures depending on the situation in their area.
“Malalaking rally po. Wala pa pong coordination na natatanggap ang NCRPO kasi kung malalaking rally, naga-apply naman sila ng permits. Pero wala pang nagco-coordinate sa amin na mga grupo, pero just the same we have declared heightened alert status effective today dito sa NCRPO, meaning mga pulis natin on stand by and ready to respond anytime,” said Aberin.
“As a preemptive measure usual naman natin ginagawa yan kasi may nabasa tayong mga posting nag-declare po tayo ng heightened alert… Your NCRPO is on top of the situation and we are ready to deploy personnel in case may mga lightning rallies,” he added.
(As a preemptive measure, that's something we usually do because we've read some posts. We declared a heightened alert… Your NCRPO is on top of the situation, and we are ready to deploy personnel in case there are any lightning rallies.)
Aberin said the NCRPO has not monitored any imminent threat against the peace and order in the Metro, downplaying a social media post urging the public to “prepare” for a situation that will arise following Duterte’s arrest.
“Actually, pinapa-imbestigahan natin ‘yung post na yon kung sino nagpost… wala pa po ‘yung resulta kung ano talaga pero wala kaming namo-monitor na activities na pwedeng mag-jive sa sinasabi niya pero just the same ‘yung NCRPO natin is ready for anything na plano nila,” Aberin said.
("Actually, we are having that post investigated to find out who posted it… the results are not yet out, so we don't know for sure, but we haven't monitored any activities that align with what was said. Still, our NCRPO is ready for anything they might plan.)
Aberin urged the public to be vigilant, especially amid disinformation and misinformation on social media. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)