Militants who marked yesterday the 21st anniversary of the Mendiola massacre got the surprise of their lives when they were met by policemen carrying placards instead of guns at the rally site.
A slight commotion occurred when Bayan chairman Carol Araullo lashed out at National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Geary Barias for showing up at the location with placards.
Thirteen farmers died and some 80 others were injured during the incident 21 years ago.
The 16 placards, each carried by a woman police officer, expressed sentiments for peace and justice.
One placard read: “Pangangalaga sa karapatang pantao, ito ang hangad ng lahing Pilipino.”
“The placards merely expressed what is in the minds of the police. During rallies, we are always portrayed as the villains because we always carry truncheons and we are not given the opportunity to speak. The message of our placards is peace and unity,” said Barias.
But Araullo wasn’t buying it.
“Give us some respect. This is psywar. That is bola (hogwash). You are not sincere. You want to negotiate with us but you come with these placards,” she said.
George San Mateo, secretary general of the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (Piston), explained that they were offended by the placards because these hinted that the rallyists are troublemakers when in fact they are responsible activists.
Meantime, the Manila Police District (MPD) arrested at the rally an alleged special investigator of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) after he was reportedly caught in possession of a firearm.
Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales, MPD district director, said Policronio Nalangan Jr., 45, who claimed to be a CHR special investigator 2 and a resident of Soldier Village, Barangay Sta. Lucia, Pasig City, was nabbed around 1 p.m. in front of the KFC Restaurant at the intersection of Recto Avenue and San Sebastian Street.
Policemen in the area reportedly noticed an object bulging from the right side of his waist and when they inquired, the authorities saw that he was carrying a .9mm pistol.
“When we asked Nalangan, he said that he was on duty and only monitoring the developments of the rally. He also produced a mission order dated Jan. 3. We have been trying to contact the CHR but was unable to confirm if he is indeed connected with the agency and if his mission order is still valid,” said case investigator Police Officer 2 Reginald delos Reyes of the MPD-General Assignments Section (GAS).
Rosales then instructed his men to file the case of violation of Batas Pambansa 880 (Public Assembly) Section 5 and Confiscation of Firearm during a rally before the Manila Prosecutor’s Office against Nalangan.
Apart from Nalangan, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) also turned over a man who they believed was an “infiltrator” sent by an intelligence unit of the government to spy on them. He was reportedly carrying a handy camera and did not show any identification card.
But the MPD chief could not confirm if the man, who remains unidentified, was an infiltrator.
There are also reports that there was a second infiltrator, but who remained unidentified as of press time.
Rosales said the five-hour mass action that ran from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., ended peacefully. Militants from the KMP, Bayan Muna, Anakpawis and Bayan were involved in the commemoration.
There were about 2,000 demonstrators, including bystanders, while the force of the Philippine National Police (PNP) numbered 2,300, with 700 policemen forming the phalanx of uniformed personnel that blocked the rallyists’ path. The rest of the enforcers were deployed in other areas.
The policemen in the area did not carry any firearms.
They were only armed with shields, truncheons and helmets. This was in compliance with the directive of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim to maintain a friendly atmosphere with the rallyists and exercise maximum tolerance.
At first, the protesters were only allowed up to the corner of Morayta (now Nicanor Reyes Street) and C.M. Recto Avenue.
But Lim arrived at the scene and after negotiating with Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Satur Ocampo, it was agreed that they would meet halfway.
The PNP allowed the demonstrators to get closer to the Mendiola Bridge (now the Don Chino Roces Bridge) or the intersection of San Sebastian Street and C.M. Recto.
Rosales said that while San Sebastian Street is just two blocks away from the Mendiola Bridge, they made sure that they would not compromise the safety of Malacañang.
Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes said they were satisfied with this development.
“This is farther than we usually get. Plus, this is the first time that Mayor Lim faced the rallyists in a rally. This also showed that the intelligence report that there would be destabilization is not true,” he said.
The demonstrators came from as far as Southern Tagalog, Bicol Region, Cagayan Valley and Baguio City.
The rally caused heavy traffic in España and surrounding streets. Classes at La Consolacion College and at the elementary level of San Beda College were suspended. - With Nestor Etolle