‘Calibrated response’ in Mendiola: 13 jailed

Thirteen members of a militant organization had their first taste of government’s "calibrated preemptive response" after they were hauled off to jail for violating the "no permit, no rally" policy while massing up at the Chino Roces (formerly Mendiola) Bridge near Malacañang yesterday.

The dispersal turned violent when some 60 members of the Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya (KPD) clashed with anti-riot policemen.

Two officers, identified as PO1 Dennis Mateo and PO1 Dedimo Alviar Jr., sustained abrasions when rallyists fought back with wooden placards.

The rallyists started arriving at the foot of the bridge past 10 a.m. on board several vehicles. Policemen, however, had received orders to disperse the rallyists even before they could unfurl their banners and streamers.

According to Superintendent Rolando Miranda, they were told the group had failed to secure a rally permit from the local government.

"There was an order from headquarters to disperse these rallyists since they were violating the ‘no permit, no rally policy.’ The dispersal turned violent when the rallyists stood their ground and started hitting policemen with their wooden placards," Miranda said.

KPD chairman Pete Pinlac denounced the police for the "attack" on his group. "Kabababa pa lang namin sa sasakyan nang atakihin nila kami at pagpapaluin. Wala pa naman kaming ginagawa," Pinlac said.

He claimed that he and 13 others suffered injuries inflicted by blows from police truncheons. They were brought to Ospital ng Maynila for treatment before they were herded to Manila Police District headquarters.

Rallyists condemned the dispersal as a form of repression of the Filipino’s right to peaceful assembly.

The government earlier abandoned its "maximum tolerance" policy in favor of "calibrated preemptive response."

Under the new policy, rallies without permits will be dispersed and protesters arrested.

MPD director Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong warned other groups of the same fate if they insist on staging rallies without permits. "No permit, no rally is a cardinal rule for us. We will strictly implement this policy," Bulaong said.

He said majority of the Filipinos are fed up with the disruption and discomfort caused by the rallies.

"It’s about time we protect the rights of law-abiding Filipinos," he said. Police later released 10 of those arrested.

Superintendent Arturo Paglinawan said only the three leaders of the group, including Pinlac, remains in detention. They were charged with obstruction and illegal assembly.

Additional charges of assault against a person in authority is set to be filed against Pinlac for hitting an officer. – With Evelyn Macairan