Marcos condemns violent protest action in Manila

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. condemned the protest actions that turned violent in Manila City on Sunday, Malacañang said.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said in a briefing Monday that those involved would be held liable over their actions.

''Ang Pangulong Marcos Jr. ay handang tumugon sa hiling ng taumbayan kaya’t nirespeto at patuloy na nirirespeto ng Pangulo ang karapatang pantao. Hindi siya naging hadlang sa malaking protesta, naglahad ng galit ang tao laban sa korapsiyon. Ngunit kinukondena ng administrasyong ito at ng Pangulo ang paggamit ng mga kabataan na gawing mga tulisan ng mga grupong itinatago ang mukha sa likod ng itim na maskara,'' Castro said.

(The President is ready to respond to the call of the public, that's why he continues to respect human rights. He is not against huge protests, in which the public expressed their anger against corruption. However, the administration and the President condemns the use of minors by these groups who are concealing their faces behind black masks.)

''Team Itim kung maituturing, hindi sila raliyista na may lehitimong adhikain laban sa korapsiyon kung hindi gumawa lang ng karahasan, magnakaw, manunog, at manira. Hindi kayo makakalagpas sa kamay ng batas at ang mga tao sa inyong likuran na gumamit sa inyo – mga gahaman sa kapangyarihan. Hindi kayo dapat paligtasin. Hustisya ang uusig sa inyo,'' she added.

(They are called 'Team Itim,' they are not rallyists who have legitimate advocacies against corruption as they only incite violence, theft, and hostile actions. You can't escape the law and those who used you who were greedy of power. The justice system will prosecute you.) 

According to Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, the President was inside the Palace compound on Sunday, monitoring the demonstrations, including the violent protest action near Malacañang.

''As of 11 A.M. yesterday, the President and I were in touch constantly every 20 minutes to assess the situation. He was in a secured facility inside the compound monitoring every single step,'' Remulla said.

''At approximately 2 P.M., while I was at the Command Center in Camp Crame, he called me and asked me to personally assess the threat level that was going on in Ayala Bridge,'' he added.

The Manila Police District earlier said that a total of 113 people have been arrested for throwing rocks, destroying properties, and burning tires during the rally against corruption on Sunday. 

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno had said he received initial reports that a former politician and a lawyer supposedly funded the rallyists that destroyed properties along Recto Avenue. 

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) president Renato Reyes clarified that the groups behind the commotion in Mendiola were not affiliated with them saying he himself was injured during the protest action.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez, Jr. ensured that the presence of cops on the streets would continue following the violent protest in Manila. 

''So for example here in Metro Manila, we heightened our alertness and we increase visibility especially on threats like for example in vital installation, number one is Malacañang and so we will increase the number of public safety forces here especially the police,'' Nartatez said in the same briefing.

Nartatez also said Malacañang would always be given highest security. 

''If there were intelligence report about terrorism or act of terrorism, here in Malacañang areas specifically, sagutin ko uli kanina, this is the seat of power, whether there is no threat or there is threat, these premises, this vital installation is given the highest security,'' he said. —AOL, GMA Integrated News