News Update PNP to raise alert level in 10 regions for Labor Day rallies

he Philippine National Police (PNP) will be on heightened alert in 10 regions, including Metro Manila, starting Wednesday in anticipation of massive Labor Day protests on Saturday.

PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina said the alert status of Regions 1 to 8, the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR) and the National Capital Region (NCR) will be upgraded from normal to heightened effective 8 a.m. on April 28.

Police in Regions 9 to 13 and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), however, will be on full alert status. The PNP's Special Action Force nationwide will likewise be on full alert.

Militant labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno earlier said more than 50,000 would gather on the streets of Metro Manila to present their labor-related agenda to national candidates and assessment of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s nine-year rule.

"The nationwide workers actions on Labor Day will also serve as our farewell to Mrs. Arroyo," KMU chairperson Elmer Labog said in a statement. "We have had enough of her and we will frustrate all her efforts to remain in power beyond June 30, 2010."

He said workers would converge early Saturday morning at the assembly areas in University of Sto Tomas in España; Taft Ave. cor. Quirino Ave.; Blumentritt cor. Sta. Cruz, Manila; and Plaza Moriones in Tondo.

He said from these points, workers would march to Liwasang Bonifacio where a main program would be held at 2 p.m.

Regional protest actions would likewise take place in Baguio City, Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog, Davao City, Cebu City, Bicol and in the CARAGA region, Labog said.

Espina said the entire PNP would be put on full alert status five days before the May 10 elections. — Amita Legaspi/KBK/RSJ