In this article, Bulatlat fact-checks the claims of the government officials in the major anti-corruption protest in Manila that resulted in more than 215 individuals arrested, including 91 minors. The reality: there are casualties, maximum tolerance is questionable, and the police used teargas.

Claim 1: No casualty

Secretary of Interior and Local Government (SILG) Jonvic Remulla II said in a press conference in Malacañang that there was no casualty during the anti-corruption protest. “None of the protesters were seriously hurt. I repeat, none. By seriously (hurt), I mean that they would have to be hospitalized,” he said.

This is false.

On the same day of the press conference, the Department of Health (DOH) reported that there were 48 individuals injured during the anti-corruption protest. Six patients were treated for varying injuries such as a cut on the foot, eye trauma, head trauma, arm vein injury, gunshot wound and severe arm laceration. 

Salinlahi also spoke with social workers who responded to the children and found that the majority of them are injured and required medical assistance.

Altermidya also reported the death of Eric Saber, a construction worker who was shot dead while watching the protest, as told by eyewitness and first responder, Bryan.

Bryan said that he saw members of the Philippine National Police’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) raise their long rifles and fire in front of SOGO hotel.

“Eric was a standby, watching only that day. He was about to cross the street to take a look, when there were successive gunshots – more than four. That’s when he fell,” Bryan said in Filipino.

Remulla said that the police did not issue firearms during the protest, except for its SWAT team.

Claim 2. Maximum tolerance employed

SILG Remulla even commended the Philippine National Police (PNP) for employing “maximum tolerance” during the dispersal in the major protest. “I would like to commend the PNP for their performance yesterday. They acted according to law. They acted according to instructions,” he said.

This claim is false.

Maria Sol Taule, a human rights lawyer and Karapatan’s deputy secretary general, showed the pictures of arrested protesters, revealing signs of police brutality and possible torture. “This is not maximum tolerance, this is maximum violence against the people,” she said.

Taule is among the lawyers who immediately responded to the victims of mass arrests, together with NUPL, Public Interest Law Center (PILC), Sentro para sa Tunay na Repormang Agraryo (SENTRA), and Pro-Labor Assistance Center (PLACE).

In an earlier Bulatlat story, Karapatan said the police’s conduct against the young protesters can be likened to the kind of disproportionate and excessive force employed by Marcos Sr. in quelling street protests during martial law. 

“Many were apparently picked up simply because they were wearing sandos, shorts and slippers. Their parents and even lawyers who have not been allowed into the police station to see them are worried because of reports that many of those arrested have been injured and are in need of medical attention,” the group said in a statement. 

Read: Bayan, Karapatan denounce brutal arrests in Mendiola 

Upon visiting the stations, the lawyers found that instances of physical abuse and torture, calling it widespread and systematic. “One individual underwent surgery for a fractured jaw at Jose Reyes Memorial Hospital, while several others displayed clear signs of injury. Even children and minors were not spared, with several bearing bruises on their faces and bodies,” NUPL report stated.

In a separate statement, NUPL also emphasized that the law is being used against the poor in defense of private property, while human rights violations are being whitewashed.

“When the powerful are implicated in corruption and human rights abuse, the response could not be more different: investigations that drag on indefinitely, shifting of blame, or complete silence,” NUPL said. “This disparity has long been the rule. The same authorities that jail children for shouting slogans bends over backward to excuse those with money and influence.”

Amnesty International raised concerns about the response of the police, showing that they did not observe the principles of legality, necessity, and proportionality. The use of tear gas is disproportionate as it does not discriminate against its targets: civilian bystanders, protesters, and journalists are vulnerable to it.

“Victims of unlawful police use of force, including those who have been injured and family members of those who have been illegally detained and arrested, must receive full reparations from the Philippine government,” said Jepie Papa, acting director of Amnesty International Philippines

Read: 91 children arrested in protest is a ‘large-scale children’s rights violation’ – Salinlahi

Claim 3: The police did not use teargas

Both SILG Remulla and the PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño said that police did not use teargas in the dispersal of the protesters.

This is false. 

A Bulatlat journalist is one of the casualties of teargas thrown at protesters. Bulatlat published footage of this incident on its social media pages. 

“There is clear evidence,” said Josalee Deinla, secretary-general of National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL), in a press conference. “Many media workers narrated their experience regarding this. Some youth protesters had also asked for first aid because of the impact of teargas.”

The safety office of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) also received several reports of journalists being direct casualties of teargas. 

“The response from the police was disproportionate. The use of teargas was indiscriminate, affecting not only their ‘targets’ – which are all civilian protesters – but also journalists and bystanders too,” an NUJP incident report states.

Bulatlat also interviewed activists who witnessed the throwing of teargas. A student-activist from Rizal said, “When we were retreating, we already saw smashed glasses on the ground. When we were about to turn towards Quiapo, someone threw tear gas.”

“I was running when I felt a sting in my eyes and tasted the teargas. All of the people who I am with are all teary eyed and are covering their noses,” another protester said.

Child rights alliance Salinlahi, who also joined the massive anti-corruption protest, said that Remulla’s statements were a deliberate attempt to spread disinformation. Their youth spokesperson, Trixie Manalo, said that the actions of the police were documented through photos and videos. (RTS) (With reports from Kaizzer Angela Marie Manuba)