Cops beat PDI correspondent covering demonstration in Davao

Photo by Karlos Manlupig

DAVAO CITY, Philippines—A Philippine Daily Inquirer correspondent received several blows from the anti-riot police while he was covering a demonstration at the Department of Social Welfare and Development regional office here at around 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Karlos Manlupig said he was taking photos of the policemen arresting the protesters when the incident happened.

“I was inside the DSWD compound to take photos and interview two arrested protesters, who were injured, when policemen started asking questions,” he said.

“They told me that I should be taking photos of the policemen who were also injured. I told them I already did,” he said, adding that this prompted the lawmen to push him out of the DSWD compound.

While being pushed by policemen with their shields, some hit him with truncheons, Manlupig said.

“For several times, they hit me on the left arm,” he said, adding that the policemen, using shields, also pushed against the gate, hitting his head with their shields.

Manlupig was covering the protest action of typhoon victims who trooped to the DSWD office demanding the release of relief goods meant for them.

On Tuesday, a policeman also hit Manlupig with a rattan stick while he was taking photos of  protesters breaking down the DSWD gates and carting away relief goods.