Isafp-wary farmers beat up lensman at Mendiola protest

A photographer turned out to be the surprise casualty of a violence-marred protest march by militant farmers near Mendiola Bridge in Manila Friday morning. Radio station dzBB reported that the farmers, before being pummeled by riot policemen, beat up lensman Ed Corpin of the Malaya newspaper whom they mistook for a military "spy." Corpin was covering the rally wearing a motorcycle jacket and what the report said was a black balaclava. Farmers who saw him and his camera thought he was from the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces (Isafp), and mauled him. Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) secretary general Renato Reyes Jr rushed to the scene and tried to calm the farmers. It was only when he talked to the lensman that he saw his press ID hidden in his jacket. Reyes apologized to the photographer, who sustained bruises in the face and a bloodied hand. A few minutes later, the farmers from Central Luzon and Southern Luzon engaged riot police near Bustillos Street in a shoving match. The dzBB report said riot police used truncheons and shields to hammer the farmers, who tried to sneak past them towards Mendiola, which the city government has declared a no-rally zone. Also in the march were members of militant groups Anakpawis and Kilusang Mambubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP). - GMANews.TV