PHILIPPINE National Police Chief Ronald dela Rosa on Thursday condemned the violent dispersal of protesters in front of the US Embassy in Manila on Wednesday and ordered a thorough investigation of the incident.
He ordered National Capital Region Police director Chief Supt. Oscar Albayalde to relieve all the officers involved in the operation.
He made his statement even as Reps. Carlos Isagani Zarate, Emmi de Jesus, Arlene Brosas, Antonio Tinio, Ariel Casilao and Sarah Elago filed House Resolution 487 seeking a congressional probe of the incident.
They condemned the assault on the protesters saying the police violated their right to peaceful assembly.
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan secretary general Renato Reyes rejected the police claim that the lumad protesters had become unruly and aggressive, prompting PO3 Franklin Kho to run over them.
“Clearly, it was the PNP who was dishing out the most gruesome violence during the protest,” he said.
“The driver of the police van was under no immediate threat. The protesters were not even touching his vehicle.”
PNP deputy director for operations Benjamin Magalong placed nine officers, including Manila Police District deputy director for operations Senior Supt. Marcelino Pedrozo and Kho under “restrictive custody” pending the investigation.
“I saw the video and it is saddening and infuriating,” Dela Rosa said in a statement issued from China, where he is with the official delegation of President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Police forces are under strict instructions as a matter of policy, to exercise maximum tolerance in such public assemblies, with public safety and protection of human life an utmost concern and topmost priority,” he said.
“I saw people got hurt. I don’t want to see Filipinos being harmed but I cannot let emotions get the best of me.
“As chief of the PNP, I have a duty and moral obligation to look into this squarely, and deal with it swiftly and decisively.”
Dela Rosa said Duterte had been briefed about the incident and he stressed the obligations of the police in serving and protecting the people.
“As [President Duterte] said, we cannot point fingers right away without a clear investigation,” he said.
“Our other priority now is to look into the victims and check on their recovery and safety after such an unfortunate incident.”