Raps eyed vs firemen in Makati rally

Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay has ordered the filing of charges against a group of fire volunteers who trashed a police car and flooded a police station with water from their hoses to protest the death of one of their colleagues in a shootout with lawmen on April 1.

“While we respect their right to express their sentiments, we will not tolerate destruction of government property and acts of hooliganism,” Binay said.

According to a police report, around 100 fire volunteers led by Marcing Sananela on board 20 fire trucks and a dozen cars trooped to the Makati Central Police Station on Ayala Avenue Extension in Makati City on April 5 to protest the death of Ronald Infante, a fire volunteer, who was killed on April 1 near the South Superhighway.

Investigators said that Infante figured in a shootout with policemen from the Makati Police Precinct 3 after he and a companion tried to hijack a delivery van. The van driver, however, rammed the vehicle into the road’s center island, attracting the attention of lawmen on patrol.

During Thursday’s protest, the fire volunteers opened their water hoses and trained them on the police station as fire sirens blared until Supt. Jaime Santos, the city police officer in charge, came out and met with them.

Reached by the Inquirer yesterday, Santos recalled that he spoke with Infante’s wife, Mary Rose, and told her that he would act on her husband’s case as soon as she files a formal complaint.

“In fact, I already relieved the two officers involved in the shooting. She thanked me for that,” he said.

“I thought after our exchange, they would disperse peacefully. I did not know they were planning on going to Precinct 3,” Santos added.

At the police precinct on Evangelista Street in Barangay Bangkal, the fire volunteers surrounded the building and hurled invectives at the policemen who were inside.

They also trained their water hoses on the police precinct and a nearby fire station, resulting in flooding inside the buildings, said Santos.

The mob later vented their rage on a police car which was parked outside. They punctured the tires, scratched the body, broke the tail lights and windshield and pumped water inside the vehicle.

Santos said he decided to go to the police precinct but before he got there, the protesters dispersed. A police report took note of the names inscribed on the fire trucks which took part in the protest.

These included the Severino, Tayabas, Batangas Fire Volunteers Association; Alyansa Fire Volunteers; Baclaran Fire Volunteers; Central Tondo Volunteers; Sampaloc Volunteers; Metro Pumper; LPGMA Malabon; West Tondo; Sta. Cruz, Escolta; Brgy. Talipapa; Rusty Lopez Fire Volunteers; Marikina Fil-Chinese; Gotesco; Golden Pumper San Juan; Dapitan Pumper; Dee Hwaleong; Malabon, Potrero and Metro Volunteer.