By Darryl John Esguerra
MANILA– President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered the police to exercise “maximum tolerance” in handling anti-corruption protests that turned violent near Malacañang in Manila on Sunday.
“Maximum tolerance. Walang dapat masaktan (No one should get hurt),” Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said in a television interview when asked for the President’s directive.
Remulla was on Mendiola Street, where rallyists clashed with authorities and several protesters were arrested.
In a separate statement shared by the Presidential Communications Office, Remulla said the police will not tolerate violence.
“We will protect the citizens peaceably assembling to redress their grievance, but we will not tolerate instability and violence,” he said.
Earlier in the afternoon, violence also erupted at Ayala Bridge when demonstrators wearing ski masks and balaclavas hurled rocks and bottles and set a police motorcycle on fire.
Police raised their riot shields to block flying debris while repeatedly urging the crowd to remain calm.
Several officers were splashed with an unidentified foul-smelling substance, though no serious injuries were reported.
An explosion of unknown origin was also heard, while firefighters rushed to extinguish the flames as some rallyists fled the scene. (PNA)
