MILITANT groups in Negros Occidental condemned the violent dispersal of protesters during a rally in front of the United States Embassy in Manila Wednesday, which injured 20 protesters.
Members of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)-Negros Negros and Karapatan Negros Island trooped to the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City Thursday afternoon to call on President Rodrigo Duterte to act on the incident.
Christian Tuayon, Bayan-Negros secretary-general, said the dispersal of protesters was “very brutal.”
He said the policemen should not only be relieved from their posts, but should be kicked out of the police service.
“They should be charged and be held accountable for what had happened,” Tuayon said, adding that they should be jailed because the protesters could have been killed.
He said the indignation rally of the protesters at the US Embassy was in support to Duterte’s move for independent foreign policy.
On Thursday, nine police officials from the Manila Police District (MPD) were relieved due to the incident.
Relieved were Senior Superintendent Marcelino Pedrozo, the MPD deputy director for operations; Police Officer 3 Franklin Kho, the driver of the police mobile who rammed the pile of protesters; Superintendent Albert Barot, the ground commander; Chief Inspectors Dionelle Brannon, Elmer Oseo, Joebie Astucia, Roberto Miranda, Roberto Mangune; and Senior Inspector Edgardo Orongan, who allegedly played a vital role in the crisis management.
“This is to ensure impartiality on the conduct of investigation on the incident,” National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) director Oscar Albayalde said.
In a video footage, Pedrozo was heard ordering his men on the ground to fight against the protesters who managed to go near the US embassy, passing through the anti-riot policemen.
Meanwhile, Philippine National Police deputy chief for operations Benjamin Magalong said they have already seen several lapses on the part of the PNP after reviewing the footages.
No matter how unruly the crowd were, Magalong said it does not justify what Kho did.
Magalong said he already ordered the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to conduct an investigation on the entire incident.
He urged witnesses, particularly those holding video footages, to come to them and present the video which will be part of the investigation.
Meanwhile, PNP chief Ronald de la Rosa who is in China with the President said the incident saddened and angered him.
He said the PNP upholds the citizens’ right to a peaceful assembly and maintained that they are also under strict instructions to exercise maximum tolerance in such situations. (With reports from Sunnex)