CAMP AGUINALDO/CAMP CRAME, Quezon City – The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are under heightened security alert status in anticipation of protest actions following former president Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest.

At Camp Aguinaldo, the AFP maintained that it remains professional and non-partisan even as it remains focused on its core mission of safeguarding national security and maintaining stability.

This, as the military maintained that the arrest of former president Rodrigo R. Duterte is a law enforcement matter and outside of its jurisdiction.

“The arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte is a matter of law enforcement, and therefore, outside the AFP’s direct purview. The AFP remains strictly professional and non-partisan,” AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said in a statement.

Padilla said the AFP is actively monitoring developments and is prepared to respond appropriately to any threats to peace and order.

She also assured the public that the AFP will continue to maintain a high state of readiness.

“Speculations of military action or unrest (have) no basis. We remain to be solid and professional, unequivocally committed to the chain of command and the democratic institutions of the Philippines,” Padilla said.

Aside from this, she also called on all Filipinos to exercise restraint and uphold the rule of law. 

“Let us prioritize unity and allow the legal processes to unfold. We have full confidence in our institutions to handle this matter with due diligence,” Padilla said. 

In Camp Crame, the headquarters of the PNP, a memorandum order was issued stating: “This pertains to the current nationwide peace and order situation where possible civil disturbance, rallies and mass actions may arise following the arrest of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.”

The Philippines remained “generally peaceful” following the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte on the basis of the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In a press statement, PNP chief Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil said the situation across the country remains under control, as he assured the public that security measures will remain in place to maintain peace and order in communities.

“The Philippine National Police continues to monitor the situation closely and is fully prepared to respond to any developments. Our personnel have been strategically deployed to ensure peace and security nationwide,” Marbil said.

The memorandum was sent to all police regional offices and national support units, including the Special Action Force.

The PNP instructed all uniformed personnel to conduct proactive security measures and execute extreme caution “for possible enemy atrocities.”

It also advised police commanders to establish and intensify border control points and prepare civil disturbance management contingents to ensure peace and order and public safety.

Duterte was served with an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 after arriving from Hong Kong on Tuesday morning.

The arrest warrant was coursed through the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) which asked Philippine authorities for assistance, a request which the Philippine government is obliged to comply with to honor its commitments to the international community.

Duterte was flown out of the country Tuesday night via a chartered plane that brought him to the Hague in the Netherlands, where the ICC headquarters is located.

Situation generally peaceful

The PNP said overall peace and order situation across the country remains generally peaceful.

“The Philippine National Police continues to monitor the situation closely and is fully prepared to respond to any developments,” PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil said in a statement.

For his part, National Capital Region Police (NCRPO) chief Brig. Gen. Anthony Aberin said sufficient police personnel are deployed to secure all possible rally sites in Metro Manila amid the threat of widespread protest actions.

“We have been monitoring since Tuesday and we will continue to do so as part of our effort of ensuring peace and order here in Metro Manila,” he said.

Currently, police officers are already securing the EDSA Shrine where former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque urged supporters of the former president to converge and hold a protest action for what he described as illegal arrest.

Aside from EDSA Shrine, the NCRPO has been monitoring the usual rally sites like Mendiola and Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila, Welcome Rotonda at the boundary of Quezon City and Manila, and the People Power Monument in Quezon City.