Manila cops countersue over rally violence

Police officers hit fleeing protesters during a violent dispersal outside the U.S. Embassy in Manila, Philippines Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016. AP

The Manila Police District (MPD) has filed countecharges against the activists whose Oct. 19 demonstration outside the US Embassy ended in a bloody dispersal, stressing it was the protesters who started the violence.

The complainants included PO3 Franklin Kho, the officer who drove the police van that hit and ran over several protesters, and 27 other MPD personnel who said they were also wounded in the clash.

Chief Insp. Arsenio Riparip, head of the MPD’s General Assignment Investigation Section, appeared on Friday at the city prosecutor’s office to lodge complaints for illegal assembly, direct assault on a person in authority, physical injury, resisting arrest and malicious mischief.

There were 34 named respondents, among them Renato Reyes, secretary general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan; Nathaniel Santiago also of Bayan; Roberto de Castro of Kilusang Mayo Uno; Piya Malayao of Sandugo, and Nicole Soria of Kabataan party-list group. Malayao and Soria were two of the three protesters ran over by the van driven by Kho.

The 28 complainants were Kho; Chief Insp. Joebie Astucia, then operations chief of MPD Station 5; PO1 Jayford Dionisio; PO1 Genalyn Dimaano; PO1 Nazarene de la Pena; PO1 Jeffrey Perez; PO1 Allan Reyes; PO1 Louther Payapaya; PO1 Jesus Claridad; PO1 Ma. Jeremy Baldemor;

PO1 Shernale Von Abella; PO1 Gilbert Rellores; PO1 Marecel Remolazo; PO1 Julie Fe Julio; PO1 Rhea Lourdes Jao; PO1 Tonijeen Laureana; PO1 Eric Gamueda; PO1 Ronald Abentew; PO1 Gerald Almoite; PO1 Eric Jay Despabiladero; PO1 Arcelie Buenavente; PO1 Joana Marie Basiuang; PO1 Catherine Acorda; PO1 Cathlyn Cauan; PO1 Arnold Regala; PO1 Roger Turaray; PO1 Nepry Labay, and PO1 Alvin Vinoya.

Of the 28 complainants, only Astucia and Kho were the named respondents in the complaint filed by the protesters on Wednesday in the Office of the Ombudsman. They were accused of attempted murder, grave abuse of authority, serious physical injuries, unlawful arrest, conduct unbecoming of a public officer, gross misconduct and violation of the Rights of the Accused and the Public Assembly Act.