Police in Cebu City described the protest launched by militant groups during the 128th Independence Day celebration on Friday, June 12, 2026, as peaceful and orderly.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Franco Rodulf Oriol, deputy city director for administration of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), said they had been monitoring the entire city since morning for the protest march planned by progressive groups.
According to their monitoring, around 70 members of militant groups rallied on Colon Street starting at 10 a.m., and the event ended peacefully at 11:15 a.m.
Oriol added that they deployed personnel from the Mobile Patrol Unit, Carbon Police Station 5, and the Traffic Enforcement Unit (TEU) to ensure no disturbance occurred during the activity. The TEU also coordinated with the Cebu City Transportation Office to manage traffic flow in the downtown area.
"It was peaceful, Sir, no trouble occurred. We deployed personnel from MPU, Station 5 for security, TEU and CTTO for traffic flow," Oriol said.
The CCPO headquarters also requested situation reports from all police stations in the city, and no incidents or emergencies were recorded.
The police in Central Visayas had been on full alert since Thursday to ensure no disturbance during the 128th Independence Day celebration.
Oriol noted that the rally in Cebu City was different from other areas in the country, as participants followed the rules set by the police, unlike violent protests elsewhere.
