The Philippine National Police (PNP) has shifted its sights on the possible mass actions by the disgruntled supporters of former President Rodrigo Duterte who was arrested and brought to the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands.

The PNP went on heightened alert nationwide on Tuesday at around 5 pm, hours after Duterte was apprehended upon his arrival from Hong Kong.

All police regional offices and national support units are covered by the alert status.

Police officers were strategically deployed in key areas, which PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil are meant to maintain peace and order.

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

Brig. Gen. Anthony Aberin, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), said they deployed police officers at the EDSA Shrine as well as the Liwasang Bonifacio and United States Embassy in Manila as part of their heightened security posture.

Police officers are securing the EDSA Shrine and Liwasang Bonifacio 24/7 while a police community precinct near Liwasang Bonifacio is keeping tabs on the Freedom Park.

A police contingent was also deployed in front of the Supreme Court where Duterte’s allies filed a petition seeking to compel the government to bring back Duterte to the country.

Speaking to reporters in a phone interview, Aberin said Metro Manila has been relatively peaceful.