The Philippine National Police (PNP) will strengthen security around the Senate following reports of a possible threat against the institution.
Interior Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla said additional security measures would be put in place after Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian disclosed that the Senate had received intelligence information on a supposed threat.
“There’s always a threat,” Remulla told reporters when asked about the reported security concern.
Gatchalian earlier said, citing information from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), that there were threats that “something could happen in the Senate.”
Asked how the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the PNP would respond, Remulla said security would be reinforced.
“We are beefing up the security. June 12 is a critical date,” he said.
The statement came amid earlier reports that supporters of Vice President Sara Duterte were planning to hold a protest on June 12, coinciding with the country’s Independence Day commemoration. Some reports claimed the groups were planning to storm Malacañang.
The PNP previously said it had not received validated information on the alleged protest or supposed plan to attack Malacañang. However, it said police forces remain prepared to respond to any threat.
Asked whether there was an actual plan by pro-Duterte groups to carry out an attack, Remulla said authorities were still assessing the information.
“It’s all raw intelligence. We are watching all destabilizing groups,” he said.