SILG Remulla says those involved in Manila riot may face sedition raps

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Monday that those involved in the violent protest action in Manila City on Sunday may face sedition charges. 

''Nandiyan iyong arson, nandiyan iyong grave physical injuries and we can go as far as sedition – iyong statement lang nila na 'We intend to burn the Palace. Gusto naming sunugin iyong Palasyo,' is a seditious act in itself,'' Remulla said in a Palace press briefing.

(There's arson, there's grave physical injuries and we can go as far as sedition. Their statement that they intend to burn the Palace is a seditious act in itself.) 

The Manila Police District earlier said a group of hip-hop gangsters who claimed to have been influenced by a certain rapper was possibly behind the violence. 

Over the weekend, Remulla said an initial information indicated that minors involved in the violent rally intended to breach the perimeter and reach Malacañang Palace to burn it.

Meanwhile, Remulla said the police officers had observed maximum tolerance in responding to the protesters. 

''The President’s directive, very explicitly stated that the PNP shall act with maximum tolerance and with maximum tolerance, they only had their right gear and no firearms. I repeat, the approximate 4,000 policemen deployed to contain the rally had no firearms on them except for the SWAT group that was in the vicinity,'' Remulla said.

''They acted according to law,'' Remulla said. 

Remulla also said the policemen did not use any teargas against the rallyists, noting that the cops pushed back when the mob already threw Molotov cocktails.

He said a total of 216 individuals were nabbed, which include 127 adults and 89 minors. 

''For the part of their intent will come out in the next few days after the interrogation of all those held. The suspects are all held at the MPD station where they are undergoing processing. The minors are being interviewed by the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) to determine whether they will be tried as adults in the coming months,'' he said. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News