Sinas says cops only pushed, used rattan sticks to discipline residents in Mosque compound

MANILA, Philippines — Using rattan sticks, police officers pushed a few unruly residents at a Mosque compound in Quiapo, Manila, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Major Gen. Debold Sinas when asked for an update about the video that circulated in social media of a cop shouting and hitting Quiapo residents.

“Actually, hindi pinalo ang lahat yun, pinagtutulak lang para huwag lumapit at nanigurado ang pulis na instead na ilabas yung baril nila yung yantok na lang ang ginamit para sumunod ang mga tao dun,” Metro Manila police chief Major Gen. Debold Sinas in a virtual press conference with reporters at NCRPO said.

(Actually, the residents were not hit but were only pushed so that they will not get near the police. Police also ensured that instead of a gun, they used rattan sticks to discipline the residents there.)

Sinas was referring to the viral video that showed Lt. Col. Reynaldo Magdaluyo, the head of Manila police station 3, hitting and cursing residents inside a Golden Mosque Compound for allegedly violating quarantine protocols.

Sinas also said an initial investigation showed that the administrator of the Mosque requested police assistance to send away residents, who are allegedly drug addicts and making fake quarantine passes.

“Ang administrator ng mosque ang nag-request dun sila. Nagrequest na maghingi ng tulong kasi nga pakiramdam nila sa loob non mga adik at namemeke ng quarantine pass. Sinabihan ng administrator na ayaw nila sa lugar kasi baka ma-raid,” Sinas said.

(An administrator of the mosque requested it. They requested police aid because they think the residents in the mosque were drug addicts and making fake quarantine pass. The administrator told them that they want these people out because authorities might raid the mosque.)

Sinas added that when Magdaluyo and other police officers asked the residents to leave, the residents allegedly resisted arrest which caused a heated argument with the police.

“Nung pinagbawalan sila  at nagresist pa at pumoporma pa ginigirian ang pulis so nangyari nagkainitan,” Sinas said.

(When they were warned, they resisted and fought against the policeman so a heated argument occurred.)

So far, no actual complaints were filed against Magdaluyo but the Manila Police District will continue to investigate the incident, the NCRPO chief said.

“Ongoing ang investigation at tinignan namin wala namang actual complaint na ni-lodge sa’min,” he said.

(Investigation is ongoing but there was no actual complaint lodged against us.)

/MUF