‘Occupy Mendiola’ protesters charged

THIRSTY COPS Policemen holding plastic tumblers reach out for “buko” juice as they take a break guarding the protesters on Bustillos Street in Manila on Thursday. RICHARD REYES

Get a permit for your rally.

This was the unsolicited advice offered by the Palace to militant groups which had twice attempted but failed to march to Chino Roces (formerly Mendiola) Bridge to stage a camp-out in the area.

According to presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, the police had exercised a “wide berth of tolerance” in the past two days for protesters involved in the “Occupy Mendiola” movement despite the fact that they had no rally permit.

“There is a requirement of a permit as a Supreme Court case has decreed. This is a time and place regulation,” Lacierda told reporters on Thursday.

In the afternoon, five protesters who were arrested on Wednesday following a clash between riot policemen and around 500 ralliers on Bustillos Street underwent inquest proceedings.

Nathaniel Aguilar; Carl Nadunza; a 17-year-old student of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP); Wilfredo Monte, a shoemaker; and Jed Aquino, a University of the Philippines (UP) student;  are facing charges of sedition, illegal assembly, resisting arrest, tumults, malicious mischief and physical injuries at the Manila Prosecutor’s Office.

They remain in the custody of the Manila Police District (MPD).

Complaints were also filed against the leaders of the militant groups taking part in the five-day mass action to protest the government’s alleged failure to deliver basic social services. They were identified as Vencer Crisostomo of Kabataan party-list; Joel Maglungsod of Anakpawis party-list; Charisse Banez, Alvin Evangelista and Andrew Zarate of Anakbayan.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the protesters tried to march to Chino Roces Bridge but were met by truncheon-wielding riot policemen backed up by water cannons.

The militants were forced to turn back and camp out on Tuesday night at Plaza Miranda in Quiapo. The other night, they pitched their tents on Bustillos Street, leading to heavy traffic in the area.

On Friday, they made no attempt to march to Mendiola as they chose to remain on Bustillos Street.

No movement

Meanwhile, the dispersal of the protesters has been criticized by a number of people, including UP president Alfredo Pascual.

In a statement, Pascual expressed “deep concern” over what he called the “violent dispersal” of ralliers on Wednesday.

He asked for the release of the youth activists, saying their demands like a subsidy increase for state universities and colleges were legitimate and an expression of their constitutional rights.

“To prohibit such activities and brand these as ‘seditious’ goes against the core principles of democracy, transparency and accountability which are central in President Aquino’s vision of daang matuwid and contrary to the call of the Aquino administration for active public participation in the governance of our country,” Pascual said.

Communication urged

“I urge the authorities to open lines of dialogue and communication with the protesting students so that their issues and grievances can be heard and addressed in an open and transparent manner,” he added.

For his part, MPD spokesperson Chief Insp. Erwin Margarejo said that the protesters started the clash as some of them assaulted several policemen.

He added that at least two policemen had to be treated for injuries that were inflicted on them by ralliers.