Beaten cop to protesters: We’re on the same side, we’re all Filipinos

More than 100 police officers sustained injuries when violence erupted amid the September 21 protest near Malacañang.

According to Jun Veneracion’s Monday report on “24 Oras,” among the injured police officers is Patrolman Emerson Macasling, who was beaten by some individuals wearing black.

A viral video online showed that Macasling lost his balance during the commotion when the individuals ganged up on him.

“Ang alam ko pong nabubog sa akin mga nasa apat po. Ako po, ako po yung sa video nga ginugulpi po eh. Kaya di ko po alam nun na kung mabubuhay pa ako nun kasi talagang yung paningin ko po is blanko na po nun. Pinilit ko lang po talagang tumakbo para mabuhay po,” said Macasling, who is confined at the Philippine National Police (PNP) General Hospital.

(I think four people ganged up on me. I was the one in the video. I was not sure if I was going to live because my vision was already blank. I forced myself to run to live.)

Patrolman King Francis Luno was also confined at the PNP General Hospital after he sustained a deep wound on his arm when he was attacked by some men.

“May kumuha po nung signage po sa traffic center at mga ganun. Pinalo po sa amin sir. Tapos bumagsak po kami. Umurong po kami. Hindi tayo magkakalaban. Pare-parehas lang po tayong Filipino,” Luno said.

(Someone grabbed a signage at the traffic center and hit us. We fell and retreated. We’re on the same side. We’re all Filipinos.)

The injured police officers believed that the men who attacked them were not ordinary protesters.

Most of the injured police officers were discharged from the hospital.

“Yung condition ng mga patient natin is not in a serious condition. Actually, they are into monitoring observation,” said Police Lieutenant Colonel Anna Marie Cabasal, PNP General Hospital chief surgeon.

The PNP said it is considering giving the injured police officers a medal and a reward.

“Tingnan din po natin yung side ng mga nasugatan natin membro ng Philippine National Police. Hindi po ito commensurate kung saka-sakali man doon sa mga injury na nakuha ng mga mismong protesters na sila mismo ang gumawa o nagkawas ng injury ng mga member ng Philippine National Police,” said Police Brigaider General Randulf Tuaño, chief PNP Public Information Office.

(Let us also look into the side of the injured PNP. This does not commensurate with the number of injured protesters, who inflicted harm to the authorities.)

According to a PNP report, more than 70 civilians sustained injuries during the series of violence in Manila.

“The President's directive very explicitly stated that the PNP shall act with maximum tolerance. And with maximum tolerance, they only had their riot gear and no firearms,” Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/LDF, GMA Integrated News