Cops to sue demonstrators in Lepanto Mine scuffle

LA TRINIDAD — Benguet policemen are raring to sue demonstrators during Saturday’s violent clash at the Lepanto Mine compound in Mankayan, Benguet, where seven policemen were reportedly hurt.

The Benguet Police Office here are pointing fingers at some 3,000 demonstrators who tried to "storm" the Lepanto Mines.

Policemen and demonstrators that included striking workers of the Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company clashed on Saturday noon hurting seven policemen.

Huge stones were allegedly hurled against policemen by the rallyists demanding the reinstatement of "terminated" employees.

The rally that was supposedly organized to condemn Cordillera police and security personnel of the mine firm turned violent when the demonstrators tried to break the security cordon at Tubo gate and also tried enter gate 3.

Leaders of close to 2,000 striking workers claimed that the police fired at them without provocation while the police said they were ordered to fire warning shots to warn demonstrators not to proceed with their plan to storm the union hall of the mine firm.

Lepanto lawyer Weldy Manlong claimed the demonstrators’ entry was illegal.

The LCMC official insisted that the demonstrators were the first to start throwing stones that hit two policemen.

Benguet police director Senior Superintendent Villamor Bumanglag named the policemen hurt in the violent scuffle as SPO1 Eduardo Marcos, Guillermo Victorio, Noli Rillesa, Fernando Rojas, SPO2 Quirino Bagni; PO2 Romel Vasques at PO2 Agosto Domeris.

He said they will file cases of trespassing, physical injuries, public scandal, grave threats, challenging a person in authority of domicile and illegal assembly.

Bumanglag particularly blamed leaders of the rallyists that included militant labor and political groups like the Kilusang Mayo Uno, Cordillera Peoples Alliance, Bayan Muna and other left-leaning groups.