The Police Regional Office – Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) activated a comprehensive security and public safety plan as a broad alliance in Negros Occidental gears up for the “Trillion Peso March 2.0” on Sunday, November 30.
In a statement on Thursday, November 27, PRO-NIR Director Brigadier General Arnold Thomas Ibay said they are fully committed to ensuring that the march-rally is conducted safely, peacefully and orderly.
“We respect the people’s right to peaceful assembly and our duty is to protect that right while safeguarding the welfare of the entire community. I call on all participants to exercise responsibility and cooperation as we work together to maintain peace and civility throughout the event,” he added.
Ibay said the PRO-NIR will implement its comprehensive security and public safety plan in coordination with local government units, emergency responders and partner-agencies.
Around 2,000 police personnel will be deployed across the region for crowd and traffic management, emergency response, and monitoring of any potential security concern.
“While no major threats have been monitored, the PRO-NIR will be placed under heightened alert status to ensure security and safety of the general public,” Ibay said.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Bacolod, Tama Na! Alliance against Corruption – Negros, and the One Negros Ecumenical Council will jointly lead the march-rally in this highly urbanized city on November 30.
The assembly areas are the Provincial Capitol Lagoon, South Capitol Road for the delegations from the north; and Sacred Heart Seminary on Lizares Avenue for those from the south.
The participants will converge at the Bacolod City Public Plaza replica center for the rally at 2:00 p.m.
In a press conference held at the Bishop’s House on Thursday, former governor Rafael Coscolluela of the Tama Na! Alliance against Corruption – Negros, Bishop Patricio Buzon of the Diocese of Bacolod, and Bishop Virgilio Amihan of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente called for thorough and impartial investigations into the anomalous public works and government projects.
“We seek to resolve the very roots of this systemic ill and expose the extent to which it has siphoned resources from vital social services into the pockets of the corrupt,” they said in a unity statement.
“We firmly ground ourselves in the assertion that needed reforms must begin with our collective voices, which when amplified, will flood our corrupt system with the loud call for genuine systemic change,” they added. (PNA)