Airtight cases to be filed vs rioters, financiers

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) will file airtight cases against the people who sowed violence during the protests.

Probers are gathering strong evidence against perpetrators of attacks at Ayala Bridge and Don Chino Roces Bridge along Mendiola street, acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said yesterday.

Around 95 police officers were reportedly injured.

Of the 216 people arrested, Nartatez said 65 were children in conflict with the law, aged 15 to 17, while 24 were aged 14 and below.

“Those who sponsored the rally at Ayala are not legitimate protesters. They had the motive of trying to topple the government and even pass through Ayala Bridge to reach Malacañang. Whoever sponsored these young people will be investigated and we will make sure they are held accountable,” Northern Police District director Brig. Gen. Jerry Protacio said.

Meanwhile, three people are being investigated for allegedly instigating violence during Sunday’s anti-corruption protests, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said yesterday.

“Sketchy reports claim that a former politician, a Filipino-Chinese businessman and a lawyer (funded the perpetrators),” Moreno said. “But we do not want to point fingers without evidence. These are angles that we are studying.”

Over 200 people, including 91 minors, were arrested for allegedly taking part in the violence that erupted in Mendiola, Ayala Bridge and Recto Avenue as protesters were dispersing on Sunday afternoon.

Supporters of the Duterte family infiltrated the protest and brought in minors, some reportedly paid, who later clashed with police, the Kalayaan Kontra Korapsyon Movement said.

An organized group paid perpetrators to stir chaos during the protests, aiming to destabilize the Marcos administration, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said.

Children from Quiapo, aged 11 and above, were paid P3,000 each to join the rallies, he noted.

Based on their initial investigation, Remulla said the masterminds instructed the perpetrators to burn Malacañang.

Several names have surfaced, but no charges have been filed so far, he maintained.

Suspects will face arson, destruction of property, inciting to sedition and sedition charges, he noted.

Remulla urged cause-oriented groups to guard their ranks from being infiltrated by provocateurs.

The Akbayan party-list said it remains wary over the possibility that malevolent actors inflamed the turmoil, whether to discredit the growing anti-corruption movement, sow chaos and install old forces to the highest seat of power or create pretexts for military adventurism.

CHR probe

Possible rights violations during anti-corruption protests in Manila on Sept. 21 will be probed by the Commission on Human Rights.

The CHR will review reports of law enforcers violating police rules on the use of force.

Reports of harassment against media personnel and the situation of hundreds of people detained by police are also being monitored.

The PNP will cooperate with the CHR.

Eyewitness accounts and livestreams showed policemen using batons to control the crowd and arrest those they believed threw rocks and Molotov bombs during the protest.

Authorities denied the police were armed and used tear gas to pacify the crowd, even as reports indicated that at least one man sustained a gunshot wound. — Janvic Mateo, Emmanuel Tupas, Bella Cariaso, Mark Ernest Villeza, Jose Rodel Clapano