2 cops, 30 rallyists hurt in Mendiola clash

Over 30 people were hurt, including a police station commander, when policemen and rallyists clashed during a dispersal of a march to Malacañang in Mendiola, Manila yesterday.

Some 1,000 rallyists, spearheaded by the militant farmers’ group Kilusan ng Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), tried to march to the Chino Roces (formerly Mendiola) bridge, but were blocked by a phalanx of anti-riot policemen, led by Sta. Mesa police station chief Superintendent Teodorico Perez.

The rallyists were protesting the series of killings of left-wing activists, which they blamed on the government.

A standoff ensued as rally leaders party list Reps. Teddy Casiño of Bayan Muna and Rafael Mariano of Anakpawis took turns in negotiating with the police to allow them to hold a short program at the foot of the Chino Roces bridge. Police, however, remained firm on their "no permit, no rally" policy.

The rallyists were given 10 minutes to disperse voluntarily, as a firetruck was mounted into position, its water cannon trained on the rallyists.

The high-pressure water jet was used after the rallyists refused to disperse.

They struck back by clashing with policemen with wooden placards and rocks.

During the melee, Superintendent Perez and one Police Officer 1 Hilarion suffered gaping wounds on their heads. The officers were rushed to the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center.

Perez is the police official who was photographed performing a headlock on two militant youths during a dispersal operation in Mendiola last June 4.

Andrew Zarate, 19, a member of cause-oriented group Sining Bayan and a student of Far Eastern University, was picked up by the police.

He underwent medical examination at the Ospital ng Maynila before he was brought to the Manila Police District headquarters for investigation.

Jigs Clamor, deputy secretary general of Karapatan, told mediamen that at least 30 rallyists were injured in the dispersal operation.

He identified some of the injured rallyists as Junior Rodriguez, 30, of Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon; Lito de la Cruz, 36, a Hacienda Luisita worker and women peasants Lorena Villaruel of Pampanga and Claire Ayudanal of Nueva Ecija. They were brought to the Ospital ng Maynila.

Clamor also said one of the rallyists, identified as Benigno Bravo of Rizal province, was reported by his paralegal group as missing.

Police said the arrested rallyists will be charged with assault upon a person in authority.

The rallyists, which included farmers from the provinces, initially held a rally at the Department of Agrarian Reform offices at Quezon City before marching to Mendiola.

The group had no permit for a rally in Manila, police said.