Police admit civilians took part in violent dispersal of rally

Civilians employed under a Malacañang cleanliness program took part in the violent dispersal of militant students near the Palace grounds Wednesday, the Manila police admitted Thursday. Manila Police District (MPD) head Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay made the admission after photos and news clips showed men in short pants dragging some of the protesters. “Well, may iba rito na naka-civilian na sundalo at ang ating OYSTER na nangangalaga ng kalinisan sa Malacañang na tumulong. Nagkabiglaan, tumulong na sila sa pagpigil sa mga nagpoprotesta (Some of those in short pants were soldiers in plainclothes and some were beneficiaries of the OYSTER project who were cleaning the Palace grounds. They were surprised at the protesters and tried to help stop them from entering the Palace compound)," Magtibay said in an interview on dwIZ radio. OYSTER stands for the Palace’s “Out-of-School Youth Serving Towards Economic Recovery" program. When asked if the OYSTER beneficiaries are considered civilians, Magtibay said: “Yes, yes. Of course tumulong sila kasi, ah, maraming protesters na sumugod (Yes, they are civilians. They just helped because there were so many protesters who tried to get to the Palace)." Magtibay said an investigation is still ongoing, and vowed to have those who showed unnecessary force in the dispersal – including his own men – charged. “Yes, kakasuhan natin lahat yan (Yes, yes we’ll charge all of them)," he said. Magtibay said initial investigation showed the police and Presidential Security Group had anticipated the militants at Mendiola but the protesters passed through Concepcion Aguila Street, then ran toward the Mendiola gate. He said there were about 200 protesters, many of whom lied down on the road. Not satisfied with the police investigation, militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) wanted the Commission on Human Rights to do the job. It also sought the suspension of the police and soldiers involved in the dispersal while the investigation is ongoing. Bayan said the police and presidential guards who punched and kicked the protesters should be placed under preventive suspension. “It is clear from the TV footage and photos that the police and the Presidential Security Group used excessive force in dealing with the activists. Even the arrested activists were beaten up. The infamous Arroyo dinners have not only left a bad taste in the mouth, they have left people battered and beaten," said Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr., in an article on the Bayan Web site. He said that Magtibay should suspend the erring policemen while Malacañang should suspend the PSG men caught on tape punching the arrested activists. Reyes noted some 20 youth and student activists were arrested and many were injured when police broke up the rally. Students from groups affiliated with Bayan sneaked near the Palace grounds Wednesday and held the lightning rally to denounce Mrs. Arroyo’s supposed extravagance and corruption. Police and presidential guards violently dispersed the students, prompting Reyes to question the police’s policy of “maximum tolerance" in dealing with protesters. “The so-called Manila’s Finest took turns in beating up unarmed and defenseless protesters. What we saw yesterday goes against the principle of maximum tolerance. There is clearly a violation of the rules of engagement in dealing with protest actions," Reyes said. He cited television news footage that showed several security personnel taking turns in punching and kicking a protester after he was already arrested. Reyes said another photo that appeared on www.gmanews.tv showed a plainclothes policeman kicking a protester who was crouched on the street. Another video clip showed an activist being dragged across the pavement, and another activist being bodily carried, with the police appearing to be lifting her by her hair. Bayan said that the students should not have been arrested and that the police should have instead negotiated with the protest organizers. Reyes said authorities should have respected the right to peaceably assemble. - GMANews.TV