[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’PNP to probe violent protest dispersal ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO and PRINCE GOLEZ
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday vowed a swift action against the officers involved in the violent dispersal of an anti-United States rally at the embassy on Wednesday.
According to PNP chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, he was “saddened and at the same time [angered]” by the video of a police van ramming and running over protesters.
“An investigation and full review is under way and necessary sanctions will be levied on any personnel guilty for putting lives at risk,” he said in a statement. “The PNP recognizes and upholds the citizen’s right to peaceful assembly.”
Dela Rosa instructed National Capital Region Police Office director Chief Superintendent Oscar Albayalde to relieve the officers involved in the incident to “ensure utmost impartiality of the investigation.”
Relieved were nine Manila Police District personnel, including Senior Superintendent Marcelino Pedrozo, the ground commander.
In a viral video, Pedrozo was heard telling Police Officer 3 Franklin Kho, who later drove the van, to disperse the protesters.
“Wala man lang kayong hinuli, ang dami-dami niyo,” Pedrozo said. “Magkagulo na kung magkagulo. Pulis tayo rito e. Pwede ba tayong magpatalo sa mga iyan? Ano’ng mukha ang ihaharap natin sa Embassy?”
Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said the PNP must “take action against those responsible, uniformed or otherwise.”
Around 50 protesters and 30 police officers were reportedly hurt in Wednesday’s clash.
Pimentel said the video was “very disturbing” and “may damage” the image of the police.
On the other hand, Sen. Panfilo Lacson, a former PNP chief, said it was “unfair” to generalize police abuse.
“That was a judgment call made by one policeman behind the wheel of a police van who might have felt threatened by the possibility of being lynched by the protesters, and who impulsively drove the van wherever he could to avoid the dire consequence of his inaction,” Lacson said.
He explained that the police van driver acted based on his appreciation of the situation.
An “exhaustive investigation” will determine if proper procedures were applied during the dispersal of the protesters, said Sen. Nancy Binay. She called the violent dispersal “unacceptable.”
Currently in China with President Rodrigo Duterte, dela Rosa vowed to make sure the PNP investigation will be fair.
As a matter of policy, he said police forces are ordered to “exercise maximum tolerance in such public assemblies, with public safety and protection of human life an utmost concern and topmost priority.”/PN
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
