Pasay mayor's supporters, cops clash at city hall

A clash erupted Thursday morning in tense Pasay City as several supporters of dismissed Mayor Wenceslao "Peewee" Trinidad and several councilors tried to force their way into the city hall ringed by anti-riot policemen. Radio dzBB reported that Trinidad's supporters threw rocks, bottles and other objects that littered the lobby of City Hall. It said Jose Antonio Roxas, one of the councilors ordered suspended along with Trinidad last year, even jumped on a police car and other "obstacles" placed by acting mayor Allan Panaligan. Police accused Trinidad's camp of "agitating" the supporters into engaging in violence. Anti-riot police armed with shields and truncheon had earlier blocked supporters of Trinidad when members from sides started to push and shove against each other. "Cooler heads" later intervened. A police officer on the ground told dzBB radio that the group's leaders "agitated" the supporters into forcing their way into the city hall. "Mayor Peewee himself assured that they won't enter the building, but they were agitated. They could not be controlled anymore. The leaders should really step in," the police officer said in Filipino. Earlier, Trinidad argued that he should be reinstated because his six-month suspension had lapsed, and his dismissal order from the Ombudsman was "not final and executory." - GMANews.TV