PNP chief asks militants to respect cops

PRE-SONA SCUFFLE. Militants belonging to Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and other groups try to get past metal barriers put up by policemen during a protest on Times Street in Quezon City, where President Aquino’s residence is located, on the eve of his final State of the Nation Address. LYN RILLON

Philippine National Police chief Director General Ricardo Marquez has rebuked the mauling of two intelligence cops during the anti-State of the Nation Address rallies on Monday.

“We allowed them to express their views. We gave them the half of the northbound of Commonwealth (Avenue). That is so much already,” Marquez said in an interview at Camp Crame.

“They should also respect the rights of our lawmen carrying out their duties in a democratic society. That’s not acceptable, that’s wrong.”

Militants allegedly beat up and detained for several hours Chief Insp. Antonio Ananayao Jr. and PO1 Reden Malagonio when they were caught monitoring the movements of the demonstrators.

The protesters reportedly enforced a “citizens’ arrest” on Ananayao and Malagonio, who were in civilian attire, after they were seen taking photographs at the rally. A scuffle ensued when the policemen tried to escape.

The two also lost their phones to the protesters.

One of the two cops, according to Marquez, was recommended by the physicians at PNP General Hospital to undergo MRI and CT-scan tests after suffering head injuries from the scuffle.

Marquez maintained that the PNP would file charges of direct assault, robbery and physical injuries against the rallyists who harmed his men.

But on Tuesday, members of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Southern Tagalog and Karapatan went to Camp Crame to return the cell phones of Ananayao and Magalonio as well as the shields, truncheons and personal belongings they took from the antiriot cops during the protests.

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