DILG says PNP did not kill construction worker shot during Sept. 21 protests

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Thursday said that the police did not kill Eric Saber, the construction worker who died with a gunshot wound during the September 21 anti-corruption protest.

The agency, via its budget sponsor Camarines Sur Representative Arnie Fuentebella, made the position in response to the question of Kamanggagawa party-list Representative Eli San Fernando during the House plenary deliberations on DILG’s proposed P285-billion budget for 2026.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is an attached agency of the DILG.

“As far as we are concerned, wala pong nag-discharge ng firearm sa ating kapulisan [none of our police force discharged a firearm]. But we have pictures also ‘na yung rioters may mga baril [of rioters with guns]. So it may be an accidental fire,” Fuentebella said.

“We don't know what happened. But for sure, wala po sa ating kapulisan na nagpuktok ng baril para po malagas ‘yung buhay nung sinabi ng ating po ng ating colleague,” Fuentebella added.

(None among the police fired a gun to take the life of the victim referred to by our colleague.)

Fuentebella, added that the police will investigate Saber’s death and serve justice.

“Justice should be done. And since we have pictures of rioters who had guns, we will identify them, we will investigate, to give justice to our fellow Filipino who died,” he said.

“We suspect the rioters [are behind it]. We respect the freedom of speech of our people, but we cannot tolerate violence because we have to implement the law, he added.

House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers party-list Representative Antonio Tinio later asked Fuentebella if the PNP had accounted for those who were wounded as a result of police action while showing videos of how Saber was killed.

Fuentebella responded by saying “None [of the casualties that ensued were] inflicted by the PNP.” — BM, GMA Integrated News