Farmers beat up rally ‘infiltrator’

Demonstrators belonging to militant labor and farmers’ groups beat up a Marine sergeant, one of two men they accused of infiltrating a picket line near the Quezon City Elliptical Circle yesterday.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines-National Capital Regional Command (AFP-NCRCOM) said one of those turned over to police was Marine Sgt. Ferdinand Alcantara, who was caught carrying a gun by rally marshals.

NCRCOM spokesman Capt. Ramon Zagala confirmed that Alcantara had a mission order to monitor the protest caravan and picket line for possible infiltrators from the New People’s Army.

The military said Alcantara would be investigated for bringing a firearm, which is a clear violation of regulations. At the same time, the command might file a complaint against those who attacked the Marine for violation of human rights.

"We will file charges against them for attacking our intelligence operatives. He was 100 meters away from the rally site. He was there as part of our mandate for security reasons," Zagala said.

Alcantara suffered bruises after being chased by rallyists near their picket line at the Department of Agrarian Reform main office .

With his shirt torn from several attempts to grab him, the Marine ran for his life, but rallyists chased him even after policemen tried to secure him.

Earlier, retired Army 2nd Lt. Eliseo Madrid was also confronted by protesters for carrying a firearm.

Madrid, however, was not a member of intelligence service of the AFP, ISAFP chief Brig. Gen. Marlu Quevedo said.

At around 9:30 p.m. last Thursday, rallyists spotted Madrid taking pictures of rallyists in front of the DAR office.

Madrid was turned over by marshals to policemen. He was not harmed.

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez ordered the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and Philippine National Police (PNP) to arrest a Bangladesh national, who addressed protesters during the DAR rally last Thursday night.

Gonzalez said that based on intelligence reports, the still unidentified Bangladesh national violated immigration laws for speaking ill of the government.

He also ordered the BI and the PNP to immediately arrest any foreign nationals joining anti-government rallies.

"I have ordered the BI to investigate this report and arrest that foreigner who has joined the ranks of rallyists. Why would he speak there? He is not a Filipino," Gonzalez said. – With Jose Rodel Clapano