• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) is deploying at least 2,000 police officers during the “Trillion Peso March 2.0” across the region on Sunday, Nov. 30.
The PRO-NIR expects the activity will draw participants from various sectors, advocacy groups, and youth organizations who are set to raise concerns related to governance and public accountability.
In a statement on Thursday, PBrig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay, PRO-NIR regional director, called on the participants of the protest rally to exercise responsibility and cooperation in maintaining peace and civility throughout the activity.
“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.
He also reminded the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities through established hotlines and police assistance desks.
Ibay said the PRO-NIR activated a comprehensive security and public safety plan in coordination with local government units, emergency responders, and partner- agencies to execute measures for crowd management, traffic flow, emergency response, and monitoring of any potential security concern.
While no major threats have been monitored as of this time, the entire PRO-NIR will be placed under heightened alert status, he added.
Aside from the march-rally in Bacolod City, the Diocese of Kabankalan is also spearheading a prayer rally at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral covered court in Kabankalan City.
The Trillion Peso March 2.0 in Bacolod City, which will converge at the public plaza, will serve as a strong declaration that the fight against corruption must continue until all responsible individuals are held accountable, a statement from the Diocese of Bacolod said.
Meanwhile, 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. | GB
