Duterte orders probe on violent US Embassy dispersal

BEIJING – President Duterte will order a probe on Wednesday’s violent dispersal by Philippine National Police personnel of protesters in front of the US Embassy that saw at least one rallyist run over by a police vehicle.

“I will have to investigate. I’ll have to make calls tonight,” he told the press at the Grand Hyatt Hotel here, on Wednesday. “But just to be very sure that I do not commit or I do not stray along other side issues.”

He said that he would be ready to make an official announcement about the issue upon his return to Manila on Friday.

“By that time I would have completed my assessment, personal, which will be provided by the police and the military. And, of course, the DILG (Department of Interior and Local Governments),” Mr. Duterte added.

He stressed, however, that he had given police orders to exercise maximum tolerance when faced with demonstrators.

“I said early on: ‘if you want to demonstrate tell me,'” Mr. Duterte added. “I’ll give you a permit for one week. Just do not invade the Constitutional orders of the (public’s) right to use the streets and be safe. ”

The President said he would await the report of Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on the matter before forming his opinion.

“I am not going into the blame game as a start,” he said.  SFM