PNP asked: Speed up probe on violent rally dispersal

MANILA, Philippines – No slap on the wrist.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government called on the Philippine National Police yesterday to speed up its investigation into the violent dispersal of a rally in front of the United States embassy in Manila last week, vowing to hold the involved PNP officers fully accountable if maximum tolerance was not observed.

As this developed, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Chief Superintendent Oscar Albayalde said the number of policemen sacked for hurting protesters during the incident rose to 80.

The militant Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP), meanwhile, criticized President Duterte for seemingly siding with the police officers.

Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno reminded the PNP that the police must not endanger human life.

Sueno said a special investigation task group had been formed under the office of Senior Superintendent Joel Napoleon Coronel, director of the Manila Police District, and parallel efforts were being conducted by the PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and Internal Affairs Service (IAS).

“We call for thoroughness and transparency in the PNP’s probe of the events, and we condemn to the highest degree any violation of public safety, of the rights of the protesters,” Sueno said.

A police vehicle driven by Police Officer 3 Franklin Kho moved backwards and forwards through a group of protesters and appeared to run over some people when they tried to get near the embassy gate, videos of the incident showed.

While the protesters threw rocks and paint at the police officers, the law enforcers used tear gas and at one point, doused them with a powerful spray of water from a fire truck hose to contain them.

Sueno echoed the sentiments of PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa, who was saddened by the incident and instructed Albayalde to place all officers involved in the operation under administrative relief to ensure impartiality.

Nine MPD personnel, including Senior Supt. Marcelino Pedrozo, the ground commander at the rally, were placed under restrictive custody at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

The PNP is also closely coordinating with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in responding to the needs and concerns of the protesters.

“Remember that the mandate of the police is to serve and protect the people,” Sueno said. “You must hold that mandate sacred even if your own life is at risk. We do not tolerate any human rights abuse and we hope there will be clarity on the matter once the investigation results are in.”

Albayalde said Coronel would continue evaluating video footage and pictures taken during the dispersal to determine all those liable for the incident. – With Mayen Jaymalin