CHR condemns violent rally near Aquino home

MANILA, Philippines - Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chairperson Loretta Ann Rosales condemned yesterday the clash between protesters and police officers on Saturday in front of the residence of President Aquino in Quezon City.

“Filipinos are a peace-loving people who have learned to value democracy and human rights even at the cost of their own lives. As such, any provocation to violence is an unwelcome aberration,” said Rosales in a statement.

Rosales said the CHR is investigating the incident, adding that they would focus on the issue of whether the police response was done in accordance with institutionally accepted human rights policing standards.

She noted “credible news reports” and observation of reporters who said that the protesters threw rocks, pieces of wood and paint at the police officers.

“On the other hand, the protesters allege that it was the police that spurred the violence by attempting to disperse them ahead of their voluntary departure,” she said.

On Saturday morning, violence erupted as police tried to disperse protesters outside the residence of the President at Times street.

Antonio Flores, secretary general of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), was arrested and is facing charges of serious physical injury, direct assault against an agent of persons in authority and illegal assembly.

Police said at least 12 police officers were wounded in the scuffle.

In a statement, KMP condemned the arrest and tagged it as illegal.

“The command to violently disperse the protest outside the Aquino residence was a direct order from Malacañang,” said KMP chairperson Rafael Mariano.

The KMP claimed the police clubbed unarmed rallyists with truncheons and nightsticks.