During the commotion,
a group of protesters managed to slip through and run to Mendiola. The
anti-riot police followed minutes later, allowing the group left at Recto
to follow their fellow demonstrators to Mendiola.
The 150-strong
rallyists, who included MCCCL convenors Renato Constantino Jr. and Amado
Gat. Inciong, were able to start a program at Mendiola.
Just as Fr. Joe Dizon
of Kairos Philippines was reading the MCCCL unity statement, a "One step
forward" command was heard from the ranks of the anti-riot police, who had
massed up less than a foot away from the rally's frontline. They started
pushing people and seizing streamers, driving protesters to fight back.
The anti-riot police then began to beat protesters with truncheons,
seizing and dragging several of them.
|
Anti-riot police
without nameplates during the "Walk for Democracy." Police are
required by law to wear nameplates when patrolling during rallies.
PHOTO BY ALEX REMOLLINO
|
Scores of protesters
were hurt in the dispersal, among them Bayan Muna (People First) Rep.
Satur Ocampo whose shirt was torn from behind. Police were able to seize
him, as well as Constantino and Aglipayan priest Dionito Cabillas of the
Inter-Faith Movement for Truth, Justice and Genuine Change (IFM), but they
all fought back and were able to break free.
Arrested were Eduardo
Berba, a member of Anakpawis (toiling masses) Party-List; Max Santiago, a
member of the artists' group Ugatlahi; Carla Padilla, a staff member of
the human rights group Karapatan (Alliance for the Advancement of People's
Rights); Joanne Salvador of GABRIELA Youth; Fr. Tony Bayod of the Sacred
Heart Missionaries; Paolo Alfonso, University of the Philippines (UP)
student council official; Dr. Giovanni Tapang, chairperson of the
scientists' group Agham (Association of Science and Technology Advocates
for the People); Emmi de Jesus, GABRIELA secretary-general; and Cristina
Palabay, Gabriela Women's Party (GWP) secretary-general. They were
released after negotiations that lasted for hours.
Santiago was the
worst victim of the Oct. 4 dispersal. He appeared before media at the
Ospital ng Maynila (Manila
Hospital) with bruises on his face and a
cut on his right cheek – which were absent before he was hauled into a
police car.
The next day, a rally
held by groups belonging to the Laban ng Masa (The Masses' Fight) was also
forcibly dispersed. Two of the group's leaders, Wilson Fortaleza and Rasti
Delizo, as well as 12 others were dragged by police and taken to the PNP's
Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig, Metro Manila. As of Oct. 7 they were still in
detention.
On Oct. 7, about 700
rallyists from groups belonging to the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan
or new patriotic alliance) and the MCCCL were blocked by police in front
of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) along
España Street,
where they had assembled. The frontliners – who included three lawyers
from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) – negotiated with the
police in an attempt to convince them to allow the protesters to get to
Mendiola.
During the
negotiation, a number of activists slipped past police lines and the
protesters were able to run to the corner of España and Nicanor Reyes
Streets, where another group of anti-riot police were blocking the way. A
brief scuffle ensued before they were allowed to proceed to front of the
Far Eastern University (FEU) along Nicanor Reyes Street, where they held a
program for the rest of the afternoon.
Meanwhile, as most of
the demonstrators were assembled at the corner of España and Nicanor Reyes
Streets, a smaller group – belonging to the National Capital Region (NCR)
chapter of Bayan – had assembled at nearby Lepanto Street, where they were
told to disperse within five minutes.
In an interview with
Bulatlat, Bayan-NCR secretary-general Froyel Yaneza said that just as
their group was peacefully dispersing, the anti-riot police behind started
seizing the leaders, himself included. A fight ensued and he together with
two others identified as Fajimah Tajar and John Golod – were arrested.
|
GABRIELA activists chant
the old familiar "Makibaka, huwag matakot!" (Fight, be not afraid), Oct. 4
PHOTO BY ALEX REMOLLINO
|
Yaneza further said
that when the police got hold of him, he was repeatedly beaten, and as a
result he suffered a forehead wound that required three stitches. He lost
his shirt and his glasses in the commotion, he said. He was dragged into a
police car, where he said a policeman punched him in the stomach.
Tajar, meanwhile,
said the policemen who seized her even tried to strip her, and only pleas
from her prevented this.
"The three were
injured because they fought the police," said Supt. Arturo Paglinawan,
commanding officer of the Western Police District's (WPD) General
Assignment Division, in an interview with Bulatlat. He also said they
intended to charge the three with assault upon an agent of a person in
authority.
The three were
released after a few hours of negotiation.
Violating BP 880
"In the first place,
the police have no business being where the rally is," said Saladero, who
negotiated for the Bayan-NCR activists arrested on Oct. 6, in a brief
interview with Bulatlat.
"Law enforcement
agencies shall not interfere with the holding of a public assembly,"
states Section 9 of BP 880. "However, to adequately ensure public safety,
a law enforcement contingent under the command of a responsible police
officer may be detailed and stationed in a place at least one hundred
(100) meters away from the area of activity ready to maintain peace and
order at all times."
Asked what should be
done to stop the spate of violent dispersals of rallies, Paglinawan said:
"They should stop rallying without permit."
According to Bayan
secretary-general Renato Reyes Jr., they had applied for a permit for the
Oct. 6 rally more than two days before the date of the action. Under Batas
Pambansa Blg. 880, an application for a permit to rally is considered
approved if not acted upon within two days after it is filed.
"They are violating
their own law," Saladero said.
Meanwhile, the
dispersals of the rallies on Oct. 4 and 5 were met with indignant
reactions from various sectors, from human rights and church groups to the
IBP. It was precisely in protest of the Oct. 4 and 5 dispersals that the
IBP sent its own contingent to join the Oct. 6 rally. With a report by
Dabet Castañeda/Bulatlat
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