PNP: Nearly 11K personnel deployed in Metro Manila for Independence Day
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has deployed a total of 10,969 personnel across Metro Manila to ensure peace, order, and public safety during the celebration of the 127th Independence Day.
'The PNP is fully committed to ensuring a safe, peaceful, and meaningful celebration of our 127th Independence Day,' PNP chief Police General Nicolas Torre III said in a statement Thursday.
'We call on the public to cooperate with our personnel, remain vigilant, and report any suspicious activities. Together, let us honor our nation's history and freedom with unity and discipline,' he added.
All necessary precautions and security measures are actively in place for the occasion's festivities, according to the police organization.
The PNP reminded the public to celebrate Independence Day responsibly and to immediately approach the nearest police personnel or contact the PNP hotline for any concerns.
'As protectors of peace and defenders of democracy, the PNP stands in solidarity with the Filipino people in upholding the hard-earned freedom that defines our identity as a sovereign nation,' the PNP said in a separate statement.
'We remain steadfast in our commitment to ensure a safe and secure environment where every citizen can pursue a just and progressive future. The PNP takes this opportunity to reaffirm its role in safeguarding the rights and liberties of our people — a responsibility deeply rooted in the ideals of our heroes,' it added.
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. reminded the Filipino people that sovereignty and peace must be proactively maintained and require collective and sustained efforts.
'Peace, to paraphrase others, is not a free dividend, especially in a world that is both increasingly volatile and interconnected. Challenges to our sovereignty will always be present; no archipelagic or even continental country is spared,' he said.
Teodoro vowed that the Marcos administration aims to strengthen resilience.
'Every day we allow our defenses to lag, we exponentially lose ground in the struggle to be truly free and progressive. This is a time for genuine unity, where Filipinos, regardless of personal circumstance, must contribute the unique gifts that God has given each one of us to a concerted effort to uphold our flag within our own country and to remember it wherever we may be,' he said.
'In this way, we fulfill our sacred duty to be stewards of our homeland for generations to come,' he added. — Joviland Rita/RSJ, GMA Integrated News
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
27 minutes ago
- GMA Network
DA, DOLE launch P20/kg rice for minimum wage earners
The government's P20 per kilogram subsidized rice can now be availed by minimum wage earners as the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Friday launched the nationwide rollout of the initiative for the sector. Late in May, the DA and DOLE announced their partnership to include minimum wage earners in the ongoing pilot run of the cheaper rice program. The DOLE said nearly 120,000 minimum wage earners from more than 500 establishments nationwide will initially benefit from the DA-DOLE partnership, 'with numbers expected to grow as more companies join the program.' 'This isn't just about rice—it is about dignity. It is about proving that government can deliver for the Filipinos who need it most,' said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. 'We are fulfilling President Marcos' promise of affordable food—subsidized for now, but ideally self-sustaining in the future through agricultural modernization,' added Tiu Laurel. Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, for his part, said that expanding the program to include minimum wage earners will significantly advance the administration's goal of supporting the country's most vulnerable sectors. 'Yun naman ang gusto ng ating Pangulong Bongbong Marcos Jr., na ang lahat ay makinabang… Napakalaking bagay kung ang isang minimum wage earner ay makakabili rin ng bigas na P20 per kilo. Kung sampung kilo ang pwedeng bilhin... Mayroon siyang P100 o P200 na pwede niya namang mai-ukol sa iba pang mga bilihin, at siguro gaganda ang purchasing power po ng ating minimum wage earner,' said Laguesma. (That is what our President Bongbong Marcos Jr. wants, that everyone benefit from this program… It would mean a lot for a minimum wage earner to have access to P20 per kilo rice. If he is allowed to purchase 10 kilos... he could save P100 or P200 that he could spend on other essentials. It would greatly improve his purchasing power.) Known as 'Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!,' the program was first launched in Cebu on May 1, Labor Day. The rice sold under the program is sourced from reserves purchased by the National Food Authority from local farmers. Currently in its pilot phase running through December, the initiative aims to reach up to 14 million Filipinos, particularly vulnerable sectors such as solo parents, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and indigents. President Marcos has ordered the DA to expand and sustain the program through the end of his term in 2028. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
2 hours ago
- GMA Network
Chua calls for neutrality after some senator-judges join Sara in Malaysia
House prosecution member Manila Representative Joel Chua on Friday called on senator-judges to observe neutrality in the impeachment of Sara Duterte after some of them joined the Vice President in a trip to Malaysia. This comes after Senator-judges Robin Padilla and Imee Marcos joined Duterte in Malaysia to commemorate Independence Day on Thursday. 'Ang nakalagay kasi sa rules of impeachment na ginawa po ng Senado dapat ay mag-exercise sila ng neutrality,' Chua told GMA Integrated News' Unang Balita in an interview. (What is stated in the rules of impeachment made by the Senate is that they should exercise neutrality.) 'Nakakalungkot nga dahil ilang senator-judges na nagpaliwanag, nagpahayag na talagang kahit anong mangyari ay nandoon sila sa panig ng kabila,' he added. (It is sad because several senator-judges already explained and stated that no matter what happens, they will side with the other camp.) Chua said the House prosecution team will discuss possible steps to address the issue. Aside from Chua, one of the authors of the 1987 Constitution, Christian Monsod, earlier said that Ronald 'Bato' dela Rosa and Francis Tolentino should inhibit themselves from sitting as senator-judges after they sought to dismiss the impeachment case against Duterte. Motion for clarification Meanwhile, Chua said the House prosecution team is planning to file a motion for clarification on the order of the Senate or the impeachment court to remand the complaint back to the lower chamber. 'Kaya nga po kami ay magsusumite ng clarificatory para at least malinawan po kami sa kanilang aksyon,' Chua said. (That's why we will submit a clarificatory so that at least we can be clear about their actions.) 'Sa totoo lang dapat noong June 2 pa pinatawag na kami ng Senado. Dapat nandodoon na kami. Tapos ito ay na-move ng June 11. So, anong magiging epekto itong mga ginagawa po Senado para malaman din po namin kung saan po talaga pauusad itong mga pangyayari,' he added. (Actually, the Senate should have summoned us on June 2. We should have been there. Then it was moved to June 11. So what will be the impact of the Senate's actions so that we can also know where these events are really going.) On Tuesday, Senator-judge Alan Peter Cayetano moved to amend Senator Dela Rosa's motion to dismiss the case and instead made the motion that the articles of impeachment be returned to the House until such time that: The House of Representatives certify to the non violation of Article XI, Section 3, paragraph 5 of the Constitution, which provides that 'No impeachment proceedings shall be initiated against the same official more than once within one year; include the circumstances on the filing of the first three impeachment complaints"; and The House of Representatives of the 20th Congress communicates to the Senate that it is willing and ready to pursue the impeachment complaint against the Vice President. PhilConsa Philippine Constitution Association (PhilConsa) governor Dindo Garciano, however, pointed out that the motion for clarification will imply that the House has agreed that the Senate's order is correct. For Garciano, the House prosecutors should challenge the Senate's order by filing a motion for reconsideration instead. 'Ang sinasabi nga natin, unconstitutional at null and void ang order na yun. So mag-file ka ng motion for reconsideration. Atakehin mo yung order. Sabihin mo that your order, with all due respect your honors, is null and void, its void ab initio, from the very beginning,' Garciano said in a separate interview on Unang Balita. (What we are saying is that order is unconstitutional, null, and void. So file a motion for reconsideration. Attack the order. Say that your order, with all due respect your honors, is null and void, its void ab initio, from the very beginning.) 'You have no business to tell us to prove that our Articles of Impeachment or complaint is unconstitutional or not. It is not for us, the burden of proof is not on us to prove the constitutionality. It is for the defender to prove that our Articles of Impeachment is unconstitutional,' he added. (You have no business to tell us to prove that our Articles of Impeachment or complaint is unconstitutional or not. It is not for us, the burden of proof is not on us to prove the constitutionality. It is for the defender to prove that our Articles of Impeachment is unconstitutional.) Garciano also pointed out that Duterte's defense team should be the one raising such a concern and not the Senate who is sitting as an impeachment court. Duterte was impeached by the House on February 5 with more than 200 congressmen endorsing the verified complaint against her. The vice president was accused of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes. Duterte has denied the allegations. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
13 hours ago
- GMA Network
Marcos extends sympathies after Air India plane crash
Rescue team members work as smoke rises at the site where an Air India plane crashed in Ahmedabad, India, June 12, 2025. REUTERS/ Amit Dave President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday sent his condolences to the Indian government and the families of the passengers of a London-bound Air India plane that crashed minutes after taking off from the city of Ahmedabad. 'Filipinos are deeply saddened by the tragic crash of Air India Flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad. On behalf of the Filipino people, I extend our most heartfelt condolences to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Government of India, and especially to the families and loved ones of all those who lost their lives,' Marcos said in a social media post. 'Our thoughts are with every family, across India and beyond, grieving this profound loss. We stand in full solidarity with the people of India in this moment of sorrow. May the victims be remembered with dignity, and may the ongoing efforts to understand this tragedy bring comfort and clarity to those left behind,' the President added. According to a Reuters report, at least 30 of the 242 people on board died. Police said the plane crashed into a residential area near the airport. The passengers included 217 adults, 11 children and two infants, a source told Reuters. Of them, 169 were Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian, Air India said. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News
