No violence as Dela Rosa, leading pro-Tokhang march, encounter protesters

February 24, 2018

Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald dela Rosa and thousands of police officers marched along EDSA to support its flagship anti-drug program Oplan Tokhang Saturday.

They also encountered cause-oriented groups who held  a rally at the People Power Monument in Quezon City.

Dela Rosa, clad in a white shirt, led around 5,000 people composed of  policemen, barangay officials and members of Pambasang Kilusan ng Pagbabago and other non-governmental organizations in the march that began past 4 p.m. which they called “Lakad Tokhang.”

He was accompanied by Interior Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs Martin Dino and actress Elizabeth Oropesa.

From Camp Crame, they marched towards the southbound lane of EDSA up to Ortigas Avenue.

Policemen providing security to Dela Rosa's group were on alert as they went to the northbound lane of EDSA. Cops said around 1,500 protesters, led by the Bagong Alysang Makabyaan (Bayan), were at the People Power Monument protest against Charter change and kilings in the government's war on illegal drugs

Protesters chanted “Never Again, Never Again to Martial Law” as Dela Rosa's group passed the People Power Monument.

Nothing untoward happened as Dela Rosa's group returned to Camp Crame.

Dela Rosa, President Duterte's chief enforcer of his anti-drug campaign, said it was just a coincidence.

“This was scheduled way before,' Dela Rosa told reporters in an ambush interview.

But Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes does not believe it. “I doubt if their event was set a long time ago,” Reyes said in an interview. DMS