INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Police were gathering all available video footages and photographs of the rally at the National Anti-Poverty Commission in Quezon City Thursday that turned violent as cases were being prepared against the protesters who beat up several police officers deployed to maintain security in the area, a Philippine National Police spokesman said Friday.
Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr. said the investigation seeks to identify members of militant groups who took part in beating up Quezon City station 2 commander, Superintendent Pedro Sanchez and three others who were all said to be unarmed during the rally.
“We condemn in the strongest terms this violent assault on our peace officers and servants of the people,” Cerbo said, adding that the QCPD is set to file a complaint before the Commission on Human Rights.
The militants gathered in front of the NAPC office to protest the distribution of the controversial coco levy funds.
Sanchez said the protesters were around 70 in number, while police officers were estimated to be about 30.
For his part, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas lauded Sanchez and his group for exercising maximum tolerance even in the face of danger.
“Ito siguro ‘yong pinakabuod nung tinatawag na ‘Kuyang Pulis’. Para na silang naging kuya. Kahit sila pa ang inapi, kahit sila pa yung nabugbog, nasaktan, ay pinakita nila yung pasensya,” Roxas said in a radio interview.
He said the rights of police officers should not be violated just for the sake of self-expression.
“Kung anuman ang hinaing, mayroon pong korte. Mayroong proseso. Hindi naman kailangan na dumating pa tayo sa karahasan o bugbugan,” Roxas said.