Arthur Fuentes

Security personnel from the Philippine National Police ( PNP) , Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) assemble in front of the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on January 6, 2025, as they prepare for the "Pahalik' on January 7 as part of the annual Traslacion  of Jesus Nazareno on January 9, 2025. 

Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Military

Job Manahan

Karen De Guzman

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175802073501920250912-up-anti-corruption-walkout-MT40.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Students and youth groups walk out of classes as part of the Black Friday protest at the University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City on Friday, September 12, 2025, to denounce alleged corruption in government projects. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Students and youth groups walk out of classes as part of the Black Friday protest at the University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City on Friday, September 12, 2025, to denounce alleged corruption in government projects. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) going on &quot;red alert&quot; status for the mass demonstrations on Sept. 21 was about the readiness and not about deployment of units, its spokesperson said on Tuesday.</p><p>In a public briefing, Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said the alert status sought to ensure that all AFP units are fully ready to support the Philippine National Police to maintain peace during the protests.</p><p>&quot;Pag naka-red alert, naka-full monitoring ang lahat ng units natin, ang communication lines natin ay bukas 24/7 at naka-standby din ang mga tropa natin para makaresponde tayo kung hihingin ng PNP in terms of peace and order ang law enforcement,&quot; said Padilla.</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s more about readiness, not immediate deployment. Very close ang aming coordination [with the PNP]. Ang layunin namin is simple: peaceful and orderly ang mga protestang magaganap,&quot; she added.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/15/groups-call-on-public-to-join-sept-21-protest-to-voice-anger-over-corruption-1658">READ: Groups call on public to join Sept. 21 protest to voice anger over widespread corruption</a></div><p>Padilla also belied allegations that the red alert status meant the start of militarization.</p><p>&quot;It is simply a readiness posture. The AFP, we stay in the background sa ganito while the PNP takes the lead on the ground in terms of law enforcement and crowd control,&quot; she said.</p><p>Meanwhile, the AFP said they have yet to monitor security risks for the Sept. 21 protests, but emphasized they stand ready for any eventuality. Contingency measures, she said, are in place.</p><p>&quot;We continuously monitor. Walang indikasyon nang malaking banta pero ang AFP, alerto tayo sa laban sa kahit anong pagtatangka na i-exploit itong sitwasyong ito para maghasik ng karahasan o pagkakawatak-watak o kahit anong kaguluhan,&quot; she said.</p><p>&quot;Ang priority natin is yung kaligtasan ng sibilyan, pagrespeto sa karapatang pantao at pananatili ng kaayusan sa mga ganitong activities,&quot; she said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>PNP DEPLOYMENT</strong></div><p>The Philippine National Police (PNP), for its part, will deploy over 50,000 personnel across the country to secure the upcoming protest rallies.</p><p>According to PNP Acting Chief PLt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., the large-scale mobilization aims to ensure public safety and prevent disruptions as thousands are expected to join demonstrations.</p><p>&quot;While we respect the right of every Filipino to peacefully express their views, our foremost duty is to protect lives and property. Our personnel are trained and ready to ensure that the protests remain orderly and safe for everyone,&quot; Nartatez said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/15/pnp-urges-rallyists-to-secure-permits-ahead-of-sept-21-protest-1614">READ: PNP urges rallyists to secure permits ahead of Sept. 21 protest</a></div><p>The nationwide deployment will include:</p><p>* Nearly 10,000 officers assigned to fixed visibility posts</p><p>* More than 17,000 personnel on mobile patrol</p><p>* Over 3,000 officers assisting traffic flow</p><p>* More than 9,000 securing checkpoints and border control points</p><p>* Nearly 6,000 dedicated to crowd management</p><p>* Over 4,500 assigned to the Reactionary Standby Support Force (RSSF)</p><p>* 415 trained drone operators for aerial monitoring</p><p>PBGen. Randulf T. Tuaño, PNP spokesperson and chief of the Public Information Office, emphasized that the deployment is meant to strike a balance between public safety and the protection of civil liberties.</p><p>&quot;We are committed to a visible and strategic police presence across the country. Our deployment is designed to safeguard public safety while allowing citizens to exercise their right to peacefully assemble. Every team and unit is ready to respond to ensure a secure environment without unnecessary disruptions,&quot; Tuaño said.</p><p>The PNP also appealed to protesters to conduct their activities peacefully and to cooperate with law enforcement authorities.</p><p>It urged the public to monitor traffic advisories and follow police instructions to minimize inconvenience during the protests.</p><p>Dubbed as the Trillion Peso March Against Corruption, the protest is set on Sept. 21, the commemoration of the declaration of Martial Law over five decades ago.</p><p>Some 55 civil society organizations, five political parties, over 130 youth organizations are among those who will scream &quot;Sobra na! Tama na! Ikulong na!&quot;</p><p>Another group will also be organizing a protest in Luneta in Manila on the morning of Sept. 21.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qOyNnn3JaLA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Armed Forces of the Philippines going on “red alert” for the demonstrations on Sept. 21 was about the readiness and not about deployment of units, its spokesperson said.</p>

The Armed Forces of the Philippines going on “red alert” for the demonstrations on Sept. 21 was about the readiness and not about deployment of units, its spokesperson said.

AFP: Sept. 21 ‘red alert’ status about readiness, not deployment

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AFP: Sept. 21 ‘red alert’ status about readiness, not deployment

Job Manahan,

Karen De Guzman,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 16, 2025 06:49 PM PHT

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Updated Sep 16, 2025 07:49 PM PHT

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Armed Forces of the Philippines

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