Youth group denies being paid, returns to Crame to support Purisima
Protesters gathered in front of Camp Crame in Quezon City to show their support to Philippine National Police Director General Alan Purisima. Nestor Corrales/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines- A youth group, earlier accused of being paid protesters, on Thursday gathered in front of Camp Crame in Quezon City to show their support to beleaguered Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima.
About 20 youth from the Kabataan Kontra Korupsyon (KKK) held placards saying, “Bravo Police, Fight Crime.”
“Tumitindig at naninindigan ang aming grupo na may moral ascendancy at kakayahan si Gen. Purisima upang pamunuan ang buong kapulisan sa laban nito sa kriminalidad at lawlessness,” said Robert Santos, spokesman of the People’s Coalition for Peace, the umbrella organization of KKK.
(Our group firmly believes the Gen. Alan Purisima has the moral ascendancy and the ability to lead the police in its fight against criminality and lawlessness.)
Santos in a press briefing on September 26 identified himself as Henry Reyes, a political operator.
During the briefing, he defended Purisima and said all the allegations hurled against him were politically motivated.
Reyes said their group voluntarily went to the police headquarters.
“Andito sila kasi sila ang aani ng reporma ng PNP at naniniwala sila sa reporma ni Purisima,” he said.
(They are here because they will be the ones to benefit from the reforms in the PNP and they believe in the reforms instituted by Purisima.)
According to him, the moves to oust Purisima stemmed from the reforms he initiated in the PNP, including the stiffer process in gun licensing.
He said the police chief has clearly explained the allegations hurled against him when he appeared before the Senate on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, John Michael, 16, one of the protesters said he believes in the reforms Purisima has instituted in the police force.
He said the reforms in the PNP would be beneficial particularly to the youth sector.
He added that they came to Camp Crame voluntary amid earlier reports that they were paid P100 to join the rally.
The protesters came from different parts of Metro Manila.
On Wednesday, the same group picketed at Camp Crame where some protesters admitted they gad received P100 to join the rally.
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