Cops say rallyists started violence

MANILA, Philippines - Activists who tried to camp out at Mendiola since Tuesday were the ones who started the violence by attacking policemen guarding the Mendiola bridge (now called the Don Chino Roces bridge), not the other way around, according to six policemen who were injured during the dispersal.

The six policemen, who are from Manila Police District (MPD) Station 11, went to the MPD headquarters Thursday night to tell their story to MPD spokesman Chief Inspector Erwin Margarejo.

Police Officers 2 Jerry Pagaoa, Dennis Gumapac, Richard Caisio, and David McMahon; and PO1s Gerald Gonzales and Rhamden Arboleda said they were part of a “blocking force” tasked by Superintendent Ferdinand Quirante to prevent the protesters from going to Mendiola since they had no permit.

“The protesters were marching towards us and they were really picking a fight. They threw rocks at us and hit us with their sticks,” the policemen said, adding that the rallyists used poles, streamers and placards to attack them.

They said PO3 Christopher Jacinto and PO1 Israelito Corteza, as well as several other policemen, were also hurt in the attack.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Alan Purisima echoed the six policemen’s claims, saying the militants instigated the violent confrontation.

He said one protester threw a rock in the direction of the policemen, hitting the windshield of a police truck, while other activists destroyed a fire truck’s side mirror, rear signal light and water pump.

“Once again, the Manila Police District has shown prowess and professionalism at this time of need. Such act is indeed worthy of appreciation and recognition. My sincerest felicitations to MPD for successful maintenance of peace and order at the height of heated rally staged by these militant groups,” Purisima said.   

Since Tuesday, at least 500 protesters converged at the bridge to complain against rising fuel prices and budget cuts in the health and education sectors, among others. The rally was inspired by the “Occupy Wall Street” movement that started in the United States.

Yesterday, nearly 100 protesters boarded 10 passenger jeepneys from the Welcome Rotonda in Quezon City en route to Mendiola. Members of the group Karapatan Southern Tagalog were among those who joined yesterday’s rally to protest the violent dispersal, according to Anakbayan national chairman Vencer Crisostomo, whose group helped organize the “Occupy Mendiola” movement.

In a statement, the group campout.ph said more protesters will go to Mendiola in the next few days.

“Landless farmers, workers who are forced to go abroad, students facing budget cuts and tuition hikes. All of them are victims of the system in which the one-percent holds all the wealth and the power,” Crisostomo said.

Mayor Alfredo Lim stood firm yesterday on his policy allowing rallies in Mendiola only on weekends so no classes would be interrupted. He said militant groups have known about this policy since 2007.

However, Lim said even if a permit is given for a weekend rally, protesters will not be allowed to put up encampments, such as what the Occupy Mendiola protesters wanted to do.

He said he was the one who had the barbed wires and vans blocking access to Mendiola bridge, put up during the Arroyo administration, removed. The mayor said he and President Aquino believe Malacañang should be people-friendly, so these structures were taken out.