MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City Police District on Friday clarified that the visit of two policemen during a mobilization at the Ateneo de Manila University Thursday evening was part of the standard operating procedure.
The visit of the two policemen who came from an unlicensed patrol car raised alarm over the protesters holding a program to condemn extrajudicial killings in the conduct of the so-called war on drugs.
"To the Ateneo community, I would like to assure you na walang intimidation o harassment na ginagawa ang ating kapulisan sa inyo. In fact, kinconsider naming kayo na good neighbor na dapat binibigyan ng proteksyon," QCPD chief Guillermo Eleazar said.
Eleazar added that the university does not have to worry as the policemen were present to watch over the flow of traffic in the area.
He noted that the police has always been responsive to the university whenever there was a bomb threat to secure the campus.
"We will be there and we are there to protect you," Eleazar said.
The Guidon, the official publication of ADMU, reported that the policemen arrived after a candle lighting ceremony to commemorate the death of teenage student Kian delos Santos, who was killed during an anti-drugs operation.
READ: Police intimidate anti-EJK protesters at Ateneo