DSWD Secretary Dr. Judy M. Taguiwalo. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo on Wednesday called on the Philippine National Police (PNP) to obey President Rodrigo Duterte and respect the rights of indigenous peoples and civilians to hold protests, following a rally at the US Embassy in Manila that ended in a violent dispersal.
READ: WATCH: Police van runs over protesters at anti-US rally
Vowing to report the incident to Duterte, Taguiwalo said the police force should follow the example of the President, who had expressed his respect for the “history and struggle of Lumad and Moro peoples.”
“Pres. Rodrigo Duterte respects our national minorities, supports their struggles for recognition. Do the MPD (Manila Police District) officers know this? DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) tasked to monitor the situation faced by our national minorities & report to Pres. Duterte. We will be reporting this violence,” Taguiwalo wrote on social media.
“We appeal to the officers of the PNP to obey their commander-in-chief Pres. Duterte & respect the rights of Indigenous People,” she said.
READ: Violent dispersal of US Embassy protesters ordered by MPD exec—groups
Video footages showed a police patrol vehicle forcing its way back and forth through the crowd and running over several protesters. The rallyists, comprised mostly of minority alliances, were protesting against foreign intervention and militarization.
“Our sisters, brothers face development aggression & militarization in the provinces. Now they were subjected to police brutality. Peaceful, democratic exercise of civil rights is allowed under the Constitution. Police violence against peaceful actions is not,” Taguiwalo added. RAM
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