Scores hurt in Manila as cops, rallyists clash

Scores of people, including six policemen and five rallyists, were injured in a clash on Nicanor Reyes street in Sampaloc, Manila after anti-riot police blocked thousands of demonstrators from approaching Malacañang yesterday.

Police said six crowd control personnel, including four female police officers, were injured in the clash with demonstrators on the march to Mendiola.

A brief scuffle ensued when a group of protesters along N. Reyes street tried to push their way toward Chino Roces bridge, only to be repulsed by a phalanx of riot policemen, who moved in when the rallyists refused to disperse despite repeated warnings.

Mayhem later broke loose when the rallyists stood their ground and pelted the policemen with sticks and stones.

The injured lawmen were identified as Police Officers 3 (PO3) Marian Evangelista, Martheres Solidarius, Ma. Gracia Baldenas, Aldine Moreno, PO2 Gonzaga Joger and PO1 Allan Baysa.

Manila Police District (MPD) director Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong said Baysa sustained the most severe injury after being hit on the head when he stooped down to help someone at the height of the tension-filled confrontation with the demonstrators.

Baysa was rushed to the Ospital ng Maynila for treatment of his head wound that required six stitches.

"They were really violent. The instruction to us was to keep our maximum tolerance so when they pushed us, we only pushed them back. We were caught by surprise when they stormed and started punching the women anti-riot police on the frontline," Baysa later narrated.

Solidarius, for her part, claimed she and the other policewomen were being yanked out of the defense line and beaten by the male rallyists.

"They caught us off guard. Before they attacked we already saw some of them trying to make a surveillance. They were able to pull me and I dropped to the pavement," Solidarius said.

She claimed one of the rallyists even pulled her helmet and used it to hit her head.

On the other hand, one of the rally organizers, Gabriela Rep. Liza Masa, claimed five from the protester ranks were hurt by the policemen.

Masa identified them as Berlina Bactol, Anita Costelo, Neneth Cervantes, Teresa Ogao and Joms Salvador.

But Bulaong said they would hold Masa and other rally organizers responsible for the injured policemen.

"Our legal office will file charges against them, maybe for violating the Batasan Pambansa 880, assault and physical injuries, because they did not have a rally permit to hold a protest action here at Mendiola," Bulaong said.

Anti-riot police successfully blocked several thousand militant farmers and left-wing groups from getting too close to Malacañang in the latest protest action to demand the ouster of President Arroyo.

The 17,000-strong police force in Metro Manila has been on full alert to deal with almost-daily protests, some of which have turned violent after authorities trained water cannons on anti-Arroyo activists last week.

Steel barricades, razor wire and riot police blocked all approaches to Malacañang as demonstrators prepared for a massive show of force.

Yesterday’s rally was the largest in several weeks, gathering thousands, mostly farmers and fishermen who had traveled from Southern Tagalog and Northern Luzon provinces.

The protesters were stopped outside the historic Mendiola Bridge, which has become a shrine of dissent, several hundred meters from Malacañang.

According to National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Vidal Querol, the protesters were allowed to march to Liwasang Bonifacio but after reaching Nicanor Reyes St. (formerly Morayta) at the corner of España, they turned and attempted to march towards Claro M. Recto Avenue on to Mendiola.

"Those people are going to start throwing stones again. I told my people on the ground, they will try to make trouble before they break up," Querol said. "They just want to spoil our peaceful lives."

Police negotiated with Masa who was joined by Bayan Muna Reps. Satur Ocampo and Teddy Casiño, Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran, Akbayan Rep. Rissa Hontiveros-Baraquel and Bayan leader Renato Reyes.

Some 1,000 marchers were to proceed to Liwasang Bonifacio, but when the militant farmer groups joined them, they insisted on marching to Mendiola, police said.

Bulaong said the demonstrators were prevented from marching on Mendiola since they only had permits to hold their protest in Liwasang Bonifacio.

Querol added that plainclothes agents were deployed in the crowds upon information that communist rebels had infiltrated the ranks of the rallyists and were bent on stirring trouble.

Preventing another siege

Malacañang, meanwhile, has also been placed on high security amid persistent coup rumors.

Troops, armed with transparent plastic shields and electric stunner truncheons, were deployed near Mendiola in green battle dress attire.

Some of the soldiers were fully armed but were stationed at the rear of the police lines. At least three lines of helmeted police were stationed at the foot of Mendiola bridge while the usual trailer truck containers used to block oncoming protesters remained on the sidewalk.

The elite Presidential Security Group (PSG) were also in full battle gear, posting armed sentries at every street leading to the Palace.

Officials said they were not taking chances to prevent a reprise of the May 2001 riots in which thousands of supporters of deposed President Joseph Estrada staged a violent rally at the gates of the Palace in a failed attempt to topple Mrs. Arroyo and reinstate the ousted leader.

Around four people were killed and several injured as soldiers were called in to break up that Palace siege.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said "things will be peaceful if the rallyists observe the terms and conditions of their rally permit. But they have to obey the terms," emphasizing they were not allowed to reach the Palace.

Protesters accused Mrs. Arroyo of vote rigging, corruption and repression, but the President on Thursday brushed aside these charges, saying "a state that cowers in fear before the mob cannot stand for long."

Mrs. Arroyo has angered protesters by imposing its calibrated preemptive response (CPR) policy against wildcat street protests and demonstrations held without permit from local governments.

Officials said the stricter "no permit, no rally" policy was necessary to contain noisy demonstrations that have snarled traffic in crowded commercial districts.

Last week, a smaller rally led by former vice president Teofisto Guingona and opposition Sen. Jamby Madrigal, along with three bishops and priests, was broken up with fire hoses after rallyists tried to march on Malacañang.

The President said she would not allow any breakdown in peace and order while she appealed to the protesters not to disrupt the daily lives of students and workers passing through the Mendiola area, where there are about six colleges and universities.

Some business and commercial establishments in the area were forced to close early on fears that violence might erupt in the confrontation between rallyists and police.

Some popular fast-food outlets boarded up their glass windows as a precaution. The Philippine National Bank (PNB) also protected its office by lowering steel accordion-type doors and blocking off the front of its ATM machines with cardboard.

Police said that schools near Mendiola Bridge had to suspend classes for the day. Students from La Consolacion, College of the Holy Spirit, Centro Escolar University, V. Mapa High School, San Sebastian, San Beda and University of the East went home early to avoid getting caught in a possible riot.

A police official narrated that about 30 militants, including the character actor Rez Cortez, were able to sneak through the police barricade.

They were later seen inside a fast-food outlet near Mendiola, prompting policemen to escort them out.

‘Both are losers’

A sort of truce with the militant groups was arranged by police, allowing the rallyists to hold their protest at the corner of formerly Morayta and C.M. Recto Avenue from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Their vehicles occupied the streets forcing the public and commuters to use alternate routes.

Bulaong said the rallyists kept their word and by 4 p.m., they peacefully dispersed by going back to España Avenue.

Bulaong said they tried to prevent using water cannons in the initial dispersal of the rallyists, unlike in the violent dispersal last Oct. 14, during which Bulaong said, "they did not negotiate and they rushed toward the police civil disturbance management line."

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR), meanwhile, noted the efforts by the police to avoid possible violent confrontation with the rallyists.

CHR Commissioner Wilhelm Soriano said they would offer to train police personnel in handling street protests in the future.

"The offer to train police personnel in properly handling big crowds will definitely defuse tension in the streets where demonstrations are staged," Soriano said.

He said the offer of the CHR to train policemen intends to remedy the current situation by advocating peaceful ways without compromising the safety of the state.

"Through certain methods to figuratively douse cold water on rising human temperatures, what the CHR wants to achieve is to protect the human rights of both sides," Soriano said.

Mrs. Arroyo, for her part, commended the wounded policemen last night for their efforts and conferred upon them the "Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting."

Along with the six wounded anti-riot policemen, also awarded were Senior Inspector Rosanna Mangao, POs 3 Mary Joy Maramo and Virginia Monton, and POs 2 Sheila Marie Tadlas and Lenny Costanos.

"Well, the policemen are happy that the President took her time to be with her people and to personally recognize their professional conduct," Querol said. "I also want to praise them. Mabuhay sila."

"We are all losers and the biggest loser is our country. Sana matigil na ganitong kaguluhan sa kalsada (I wish that these violent rallies would end)," he said.

Querol said he would study the possible downgrading of the alert level in Metro Manila to allow the anti-riot policemen to be with their families and lead normal lives. — With Paolo Romero, Aurea Calica, Cecille Suerte Felipe. AP, AFP