12 cops hurt, protester nabbed outside Aquino home

Farmers and indigenous peoples protest outside President Benigno Aquino III’s house in Times St., Quezon City. Photo contributed by Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA).

MANILA, Philippines–Twelve policemen were hurt and a protest leader was arrested, after a clash broke out between the police and a leftist group which stormed the private home of President Aquino on Times Street, Barangay West Triangle, Quezon City, Saturday morning.

The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) was staging a protest action and demanding the ouster of President Aquino as part of the ongoing “Manilakbayan” caravan of Mindanao-based farmers and indigenous peoples decrying human rights violations and land-grabbing in southern Philippines.

Policemen guarding the house allowed the protesters to hold their program, which started at 9:20 a.m. and lasted until 10:30 a.m., said Quezon City police district director Senior Supt. Joel Pagdilao.

But a clash broke out toward the end of the program when the protesters started spray painting the street and the gate of a neighboring house with red messages, one of which said “Patalsikin si PNoy!,” prompting the police to start dispersing the protesters.

Malacañang on Saturday issued a terse statement on the defacement of the family home of President Aquino by militant groups.

Not peaceful protest

“This is obviously vandalism masquerading as a peaceful protest,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a text message when sought for comment.

It was not known how President Aquino personally reacted to the incident at the house.

Aquino, a bachelor, lived in the family home with his mother, the President Corazon Aquino, until she passed away in August 2009 and he was soon after swept to office in the 2010 presidential elections.

Since assuming office, Aquino has been living at his official home called Bahay Pangarap, located across the pasig River from Malacañang.

According to KMP chair Rafael Mariano, the police hit the unarmed rallyists with truncheons, and chased the protesters from Times Street to the intersection of Delta and Timog Avenues.

The police, however, said the protesters hurled stones, paint and bottles at them, injuring 12 personnel.

Rights violations

Pagdilao said some of his men sustained lacerations and bruises on their faces, arms, thighs and backs, with one of them sustaining a fractured thigh bone.

Following the commotion, police arrested KMP secretary general Antonio Flores, 65, and brought him to the Quezon City police district headquarters at Camp Karingal, where he remained detained as of Saturday afternoon.

Pagdilao said complaints of serious physical injuries, direct assault against persons of authority and illegal assembly, will be filed against Flores.

“This violence is a testament to the escalating human rights violations under the Aquino regime,” Mariano said in a statement.

“Just and concrete issues of the people are met with violence and rights abuses. We denounce this kind of fascist treatment. This is the height of state-sponsored terror under Aquino,” he added.

Human rights group Karapatan held an indignation rally outside Camp Karingal later on Saturday afternoon calling for the release of Flores.

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