The Philippine National Police (PNP) will deploy 15,746 personnel in Metro Manila as part of security preparations for the 54th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law on September 21, 2026.
PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Allen Rae Co said the deployment will include 9,746 personnel from the National Capital Region and 6,000 additional forces from Central Luzon and Calabarzon. The officers will be deployed amid expected protest activities marking the anniversary.
Co said the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will be placed under full alert status beginning 12:01 a.m. on September 19. Police will also be deployed in other urban areas around the country as authorities prepare for possible demonstrations.
The PNP said officers assigned to the security operations will not carry firearms and will use body-worn cameras. Police Chief General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. has also instructed personnel to exercise maximum tolerance during the expected protests.
Co said police have not monitored any specific threats connected to the September 21 activities, although intelligence operations remain ongoing.
He also said people may gather in designated freedom parks without securing permits, provided their assemblies remain peaceful and comply with applicable restrictions. The PNP has emphasized that the constitutional right to peaceful assembly must be exercised without violating the rights or safety of others.
Security preparations include personnel positioned around key areas where demonstrations and large gatherings may take place. The NCRPO has identified locations such as Mendiola, the EDSA Shrine, the People Power Monument, Liwasang Bonifacio and areas near the US Embassy as part of its security planning.
The deployment comes as various groups prepare to hold demonstrations on September 21, including activities related to corruption concerns and other public issues. Malacañang has said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. respects Filipinos’ right to express their views while urging participants to keep demonstrations peaceful.
The September 21 activities coincide with the anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines in 1972. Police authorities said the security measures are intended to maintain public order while allowing peaceful assemblies to proceed.
