Manila cops prepare for farmers' protest Wednesday

A day after engaging militant farmers in a violent confrontation near the United States Embassy, Manila police on Wednesday adopted precautionary measures in preparing for another protest by farmers in the city. The Manila Police District said sufficient police are now in place to meet the protesters along España Avenue, radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo reported. MPD spokesman Chief Inspector Erwin Margarejo also appealed to the farmers to keep their protest peaceful and orderly. He insisted the MPD did not initiate the tension and violence in the shoving match that marred the farmers' protest near the US Embassy. Militant farmers were to march again to Manila from the Department of Agrarian Reform to continue their call for genuine agrarian reform, the report said. Margarejo said anti-riot police assigned to deal with them have been reminded to exercise maximum tolerance. — LBG, GMA News