15 nabbed in clash at seedling bank

Fifteen people protesting the Quezon City government’s closure of the Manila Seedling Bank compound at the corner of Edsa and Quezon Avenue were arrested on Monday night following a clash with policemen.

Most of those arrested were tenants of the compound who were earlier served cease-and-desist orders for failing to secure the necessary building and business permits.

Chief Insp. Edilberto Nicanor, deputy chief of the Quezon City Police District’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, said that the 15 would be charged with physical injuries, assault upon an agent of person in authority and resisting arrest.

Taken into custody were Sylvia Attala Fortuno, 27, national treasurer of the Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap; Victor Gando, 60; Darwin Eleuterio, 23; Peter Lagtawan, 40; Diosdado Velasco, 57; Abelardo Manaois, 48; Rafael Montorio, 30; Melchor Mariano, 42; Pablito Simuoy, 33; Aprudecio Espino, 28; Irvin Pocong, 28; Ruben Dalanon, 33; Fortunato Olog, 31; Allan Simon, 31; and a 13-year-old girl.

Hours after the shutdown of the compound on Monday morning, workers and tenants of the Manila Seedling Bank Foundation Inc. staged a protest at city hall. They later went to the compound and tried to enter the premises, which was guarded by security guards and personnel from the city hall’s Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS).

The DPOS promptly asked for reinforcements from the Masambong Police Station, which sent a team led by Supt. Pedro Sanchez.

Case investigator PO3 Jamie de Jesus said Sanchez tried to appease the protesters but they threw rocks and other objects at the policemen, resulting in the arrest of the 15.

The city government took over the compound last year after the foundation failed to pay more than P57 million in real estate taxes. Tenants of the compound were given over a year to vacate the area but did not do so.