Police officers hit fleeing protesters during a violent dispersal outside the U.S. Embassy in Manila, Philippines Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016. AP
Multiple charges have been filed in the Office of the Ombudsman against 10 policemen involved in the violent dispersal of protesters in front of the US Embassy which left dozens injured on Oct. 19.
Named in a 13-page complaint filed on Wednesday were Senior Supt. Marcelino Pedrozo, Manila Police District (MPD) deputy district director for operations; PO3 Franklin Kho, who drove a police van through thecrowd of protesters; Supt. Albert Barot; Chief Insps. Dionelle Brannon, Elmer Oseo and Roberto Marinda; Senior Insps. Roberto Mangune and Edgardo Orongan; and Insp. Joebie Astucia.
They were charged with attempted murder, grave abuse of authority, serious physical injuries, unlawful arrest, conduct unbecoming of a public officer, gross misconduct and violations of the Rights of the Accused and the Public Assembly Act.
National Capital Region Police Office director, Chief Supt. Oscar David Albayalde, was charged with obstruction of justice for issuing statements “justifying the acts” of the policemen ahead of an official investigation.
Ephraim Cortez of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers accompanied the complainants, who were led by Piya Macliing Malayao and Nicole Soria, two of the three protesters hit by the van driven by Kho; and jeepney driver Raymart Sumalbag who was dragged out of his vehicle and beaten up by policemen.
“We can see from the footage [taken during the protest] the intent to
kill,” Cortez said, referring particularly to Kho. “There is evident premeditation and we believe this was part of the dispersal operation,” he told reporters, adding that they hoped for the eventual dismissal of the policemen.
The protest was one of the activities of the Lakbayan ng Pambansang Minorya, a gathering of over 3,000 Lumad, Moro and indigenous peoples in Manila to press their call for the right to self-determination. The rally was also in support of President Duterte’s commitment to forging an independent foreign policy.