By Darryl John Esguerra
MANILA – At least 95 police personnel were hurt, some seriously, in Sunday’s violent protests near Malacañang, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) reported Monday, stressing that law enforcers bore the brunt of the clashes and strictly adhered to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s order for maximum tolerance.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the President was monitoring the situation “every single step” from a secure facility inside the Malacañang compound.
The President, he noted, explicitly directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to exercise “maximum tolerance” in dealing with the demonstrators.
The violence escalated after protesters set ablaze the tires of a container van used as a barricade at Ayala Bridge and later converged in Mendiola, where masked men hurled rocks, bottles, and Molotov cocktails.
“The anarchists burned a container truck that was put by the PSG (Presidential Security Group) to block the entrance of the Ayala Bridge,” Remulla said.
“Only when the mob were throwing Molotov cocktails did the police push back, that crossed the line. When rocks were thrown, you could shield yourself but Molotov cocktails crossed the line, that can cause death.”
Remulla emphasized that the PNP carried no firearms and did not discharge weapons or use teargas throughout the unrest.
“They acted according to law. They acted according to instructions,” he said.
A total of 216 individuals were arrested, including 127 adults and 89 minors. Of the minors, 65 were classified as children in conflict with the law (ages 15 to 17), while 24 were identified as children at risk (14 and below).
Remulla said none of the protesters sustained serious injuries requiring hospitalization, but “the police got hurt more than the protesters.”
“Nakakaawa po ang mga pulis natin – binuhusan ng tubig galing sa kanal; binato ng hollow block; binugbog; at binato ng Molotov cocktail, nasusunog sa tabi nila. Pero ganoon pa man, walang ginamit na dahas laban sa mga raliyista (Our policemen were doused with water from canals, hit with hollow blocks, beaten, and pelted with Molotov cocktails burning beside them. Yet despite all that, no violence was used against the rallyists),” Remulla said.
Authorities also disclosed that some minors in custody told investigators they had intended to burn Malacañang, though the claims will be validated with the help of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The arrested individuals are now undergoing processing at the Manila Police District station.
Remulla lamented that while tens of thousands joined nationwide rallies to air grievances against corruption, the actions of a small violent faction “marred” the demonstrations.
“Sayang naman ang efforts ng buong Pilipinas na nagprotesta, the 65 or so thousand that protested and aired their grievances, which the President duly respected their right to do so. Their right to grievance was marred by maybe a group of 1,000 hooligans who wanted nothing but to spread anarchy,” he said.
Meanwhile, Senator Francis Pangilinan lauded the security forces for maintaining order during the rallies and prayed for the recovery of those injured while on duty.
“Sa gitna ng gulo, ipinakita niyo na sakripisyo ang serbisyo (In the middle of chaos, you showed that service is sacrifice),” Pangilinan said.
The senator urged authorities to continue upholding the rule of law, implementing maximum tolerance, and safeguarding the dignity and rights of every Filipino. (Wilnard Bacelonia/PNA)
