WPD admits lapses in dispersing rallyists

The leadership of the Western Police District yesterday admitted there have been lapses during the bloody and violent dispersal of some 30 members of the militant Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya last Monday in front of the United States Embassy by elements of the WPD crowd control unit.

"I was there on the ground after the dispersal. I know there were lapses. There were indeed lapses in the rules of engagement. We will try to find out what these were and find out what really happened," said Chief Superintendent Nicolas Pasinos, WPD chief.

Manila Mayo Lito Atienza urged the WPD crowd control units to be more restraint in quelling protesters.

Atienza ordered Pasinos to formulate a more systematic and efficient manner in handling crowds. This is the second warning issued by Atienza to the WPD. The first time he warned the police to observe maximum tolerance was after protesters in front of the Supreme Court along Padre Faura street were dispersed last week.

"If those holding protest actions are not engaged in violence and do not pose a danger to anyone, then there is no need to disperse them as they are just exercising their rights," Atienza told Pasinos. "Policemen who cannot abide by this policy have no place in the city. They should be reassigned to war-torn areas in Mindanao so they can prove their bravery in combat and not against unarmed and peaceful protesters," Atienza said.

In the wake of the violent dispersal, Pasinos ordered yesterday the formation of a fact-finding board to go to the bottom of the incident and identify members of the crowd dispersal team that instigated the bloody dispersal.

The fact-finding board will be headed by Superintendent Marcelino Franco, WPD deputy chief for administration. Composing the board are officers from the WPD District Intelligence and Investigation Division, Personnel Section and District Intelligence Office.

According to Franco, elements of the 80-man crowd dispersal unit assigned to secure the US Embassy last Monday will all be required to submit their statements.

Investigators will also question Ermita Police Station commander Superintendent Manolo Martinez being the most senior officer at the area.

Franco added that they have still not identified the immediate ground commander of the crowd dispersal team as well as who gave the order for the riot policemen to charge at the rallyists.