MANILA, Philippines — More than 17,000 police personnel are being deployed across Metro Manila as the Philippines marks the 54th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law on Sept. 21, with authorities preparing for demonstrations at several major gathering points.
The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said Sunday that its latest deployment plan involves 17,085 personnel, including crowd-dispersal management units and additional police contingents from neighboring regions.
The number is higher than the roughly 15,000-plus personnel initially announced earlier in the week.
The heightened security comes as various groups prepare to hold rallies and other activities marking the anniversary of President Ferdinand Marcos’ 1972 declaration of Martial Law.
Police Deployment Jumps to 17,085
NCRPO spokesperson Police Lieutenant Colonel Hazel Asilo said the latest figure was 17,085 personnel as of Sunday noon.
The force includes NCRPO personnel as well as contingents from other regions, including crowd-dispersal teams.
Authorities have identified several locations where mobilizations are expected, including the:
- EDSA Shrine
- People Power Monument
- Mendiola
- Liwasang Bonifacio
- Areas near the Senate
- Areas near the House of Representatives
Police have also been positioned around major roads and other areas considered potential convergence points.
The deployment is not being described by authorities as a response to a specific new threat.
Instead, police have said the security plan is based on anticipated protest activity and lessons from previous commemorations.
NCRPO Already On Full Alert
The NCRPO was placed on full alert status earlier than originally scheduled.
PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Allen Rae Co said the decision was made after a command and coordination conference on Sept. 18.
The police said the earlier activation was intended to give authorities more time to prepare for possible developments during the Sept. 21 activities.
Co stressed that the move was not triggered by an unidentified threat.
The PNP had earlier announced plans to deploy more than 15,700 personnel and said additional forces from Central Luzon, Calabarzon and other regions could be brought in if necessary.
The latest 17,085 figure indicates that the augmentation has since increased.
Police Say Firearms Will Not Be Carried By Protest-Security Personnel
One notable feature of the security plan is the PNP’s earlier announcement that personnel assigned specifically to protest-security operations would not carry firearms.
Crowd-dispersal management personnel are instead equipped with protective gear, including helmets and shields, as well as batons.
Police have also said body-worn cameras will be used during security operations.
The stated objective is to manage crowds and protect people and property while allowing peaceful demonstrations to proceed.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. reiterated that protesters have the right to peaceful assembly and instructed police commanders to ensure sufficient personnel and resources are available at demonstration sites.
He also directed officers to observe maximum tolerance as long as peace and order are maintained.
Why Police Are Watching September 21 Closely
The Sept. 21 anniversary is historically significant because Proclamation No. 1081, issued under President Ferdinand Marcos, proclaimed martial law in the Philippines in 1972.
The Senate’s legislative records identify Sept. 21, 1972 as the date of approval of Proclamation No. 1081.
The National Commission for Culture and the Arts’ Philippine History Sourcebook states that martial law lasted until Jan. 17, 1981, when Proclamation No. 2045 lifted it.
The anniversary has consequently remained a major date for historical remembrance, political expression and public demonstrations.
Last Year’s Violence Is Part Of The Security Planning
The PNP’s preparations are also informed by what happened during the previous year’s commemoration.
PNA reported that the 2025 Sept. 21 activities were marred by violence, particularly around the Chino Roces-Mendiola and Ayala Bridge areas in Manila.
Police have therefore been conducting security walkthroughs and assessing locations where large groups could converge.
The NCRPO has also said it is monitoring information circulating online for indications of possible mobilizations involving groups that authorities believe could potentially cause disturbances.
Police have said they have identified certain individuals and leaders connected to previous disturbances and that existing warrants may be served if those individuals resurface and the legal requirements for serving the warrants are met.
That does not mean that people attending peaceful protests are automatically targets for arrest.
The PNP has repeatedly distinguished peaceful assembly from unlawful acts that disrupt public order.
Several Groups Expected To Hold Rallies
As of the NCRPO’s Sept. 19 briefing, police said no groups expected to conduct protests had yet secured rally permits, but authorities were anticipating demonstrations involving approximately six groups that regularly hold mobilizations.
Police said they were also monitoring potential gatherings by groups that do not normally participate in organized demonstrations.
At the same time, Philippine law recognizes peaceful assembly, including gatherings in designated freedom parks, subject to existing rules.
Philstar reported that the PNP had not received information on rally-permit applications at the time of its Sept. 18 report, while also noting that peaceful assemblies in designated freedom parks may take place without a permit under existing rules.
Palace: Protests Will Not Be Prevented
Malacañang has separately said the government will not prevent groups from exercising their freedom of expression.
Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said authorities were hoping demonstrations would remain peaceful and that the government was not stopping groups from gathering.
She also referred to violence during previous protests and urged demonstrators to avoid a repeat of such incidents.
This puts the official position in two parts: peaceful assembly is to be allowed, while police are preparing to respond if demonstrations become disorderly or violent.
Roads Will Also Be Affected
The security operation is expected to have an impact beyond protest areas.
The Manila Police District has issued a traffic advisory covering several roads where closures and rerouting will be implemented beginning 12:01 a.m. on Sept. 21.
Affected areas include portions around Mendiola, Liwasang Bonifacio and Ayala Bridge.
Motorists traveling through central Manila are therefore being advised to account for possible delays and follow police rerouting instructions.
The traffic measures are intended to accommodate the planned activities and maintain movement around major convergence areas.
Today’s Deployment Is Bigger Than The Original Plan
The evolution of the police numbers is one of the notable developments ahead of Monday’s anniversary.
The initial NCRPO plan involved around 15,227 personnel, according to its Sept. 19 announcement.
The PNP separately cited a deployment of more than 15,700 personnel when it announced the full-alert preparations.
By Sunday, NCRPO’s latest figure had reached 17,085 personnel, including additional contingents from neighboring regions.
The increase reflects the authorities’ decision to reinforce security coverage as the expected mobilizations approach.
What Happens On September 21?
The police presence will be concentrated around areas where demonstrations are expected, while traffic personnel will manage road closures and rerouting.
Authorities say the operational objective is to keep Metro Manila functioning while allowing people to exercise their constitutional rights to peaceful assembly.
For protesters, the official message is to keep demonstrations peaceful.
For police, the directive is to maintain order while observing maximum tolerance.
And for motorists and commuters, the immediate concern may be road closures and traffic disruptions around the main protest areas.
The 54th anniversary therefore arrives with Metro Manila preparing for a day that combines historical remembrance, public demonstrations, heightened security and potentially significant traffic disruptions.
