Angry supporters of a losing mayoral candidate in Cainta, Rizal beat up three policemen who tried to block them yesterday from entering the municipal hall to denounce alleged massive cheating in the May 14 elections.
The followers of mayoral bet Benjamin Felix also burst the tires of the police mobile car, which the three policemen used to block the street leading to the town hall.
The injured policemen were identified as PO3 Nestor Cruz, PO1 Ireneo Manimtim, and PO1 Orlando Perez, all belonging to the civil disturbance management unit of the Cainta police. They fled the scene to escape further harm, police said.
Some 200 supporters of Felix tried to enter the municipal quadrangle at 7:30 a.m. while the employees were attending the flag-raising ceremony. But the policemen tried to block them.
There was pushing and shoving until Felix’s supporters took turns in beating up the three policemen, investigators said.
Superintendent Joel Garcia, Cainta police chief, said the protesters also punctured the tires of the police patrol car.
Felix claimed they wanted to denounce alleged massive cheating by the camp of re-elected Mayor Mon Ilagan in the May 14 elections.
Felix called on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and other concerned government agencies to investigate their accusations to prevent lawlessness in Cainta.
Earlier, the Comelec proclaimed Ilagan as winner for garnering 38,844 votes as against Felix’s 28,206.
As of press time, Felix’s supporters were still in front of the municipal hall, apparently waiting for a ranking government official to hold dialogue with them. The Rizal police command has beefed up security around the town hall.