PNP chief Nartatez defends police actions vs teachers' rally at Malacañang

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. on Monday defended the police response to a teachers' rally held around the Malacañang Complex.

At a press briefing, Nartatez said the police officers were only enforcing rules on public assemblies and ensuring the safety of protesters and other people in the area.

“Meron tayong rally zone unang-una and that is not Malacañang area in front of simbahan,” he said.

(First, we have a rally zone, and that is not Malacanang area in front of church.)

“Supposed to be hindi naman sila dapat gagawa, doon dapat sila sa freedom park, freedom zone at doon sila maglabas maski maghapon pa at siyempre nandiyan pa rin ang pulis for them ay maging safe sila doon sa activity nila,” he added.

(They are supposed to be not doing anything, they should be in freedom park, freedom zone and they can go out there even for the entire day and of course the police are still there for them to be safe during their activities.)

Nartatez said protesters are expected to hold their activities in designated freedom parks or rally zones, citing Batas Pambansa Bilang 880, or the Public Assembly Act of 1985.

He said holding an assembly outside designated areas may constitute an illegal assembly, prompting police to ask protesters to peacefully disperse.

Nartatez stressed that the police were not trying to curtail the teachers' right to protest.

“We are asking them to peacefully disperse,” he said.

Nartatez said that the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) is now studying ways to prevent similar incidents and ensure that dispersals are handled properly.

On Sunday, tensions flared during the protest as scuffles broke out between participating teachers and government security personnel.

Security personnel from the Presidential Security Command were seen blocking and pushing back rallyists who attempted to stage a demonstration in front of a school inside the Malacañang Complex.

ACT Philippines strongly condemned what it described as the violent dispersal of protesters by police outside Malacañang.—AOL, GMA News