Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Forty officers of the Manila Police District, including the overall supervisor and driver of the police van, were relieved Thursday following the violent dispersal of a rally outside the United States Embassy.
Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald Dela Rosa ordered National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Regional Director Police Chief Superintendent Oscar David Albayalde to place all officers involved in the police operation under administrative relief.
Overall supervisor Police Senior Supt. Marcelino Pedroso, PO3 Franklin Kho, the driver, and seven other officers are currently being held at the NCRPO.
While 31 officers were transferred to the Manila Police District.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) is conducting an investigation.
Police brutality?
PNP Deputy Chief for Operations police director Benjamin Magalong admitted on Thursday there were “lapses” in preparation from the side of the police.
“There might be an intelligence lapse on the part of the MPD na hindi nila na estimate yung crowd,” he said.
Around 700 members of the militant group Sandugo — an alliance of Moro and indigenous peoples — and the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, gathered outside the U.S. Embassy on Wednesday to protest the militarization of indigenous peoples’ lands and express support for the independent foreign policy of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Tensions flared when some protesters allegedly attacked a police vehicle two meters away from the main entrance of the embassy. Police said protesters did not have a permit to rally and they gave protesters 10 minutes to leave.
Pedroso was caught on camera saying the police should not be defeated by the protesters. Magalong said the video showed Pedroso ordered the dispersal.
He condemned Pedroso’s statements, saying his words were uttered in his personal capacity.
“It does not at all reflect the policy of the PNP. Pinanood ko ang footage. Ito ang isang bagay na hindi dapat pagsasalita ng senior na officer. Kakaiba ang kanyang binanggit and he will be investigated,” he said.
[Translation: It does not at all reflect the policy of the PNP. I watched the footage. This is the one thing a senior officer should not say. His statement was unusual and he will be investigated.]
Magalong said there is no violation if protesters are dispersed, but admitted the dispersal turned violent. He, however, denied there was police brutality.
“Ang maliwanag na violation ay yung use of excessive force. Nakita naman natin na walang kalaban-laban yung mga jeepney drivers na pinagpupukpok. Excessive use of force lang kasi kung talagang brutality, most probably namatay na yung tao na yon,” he said.
[Translation: It is clear the violation committed was use of excessive force. We see that the jeepney drivers who were hit had no way to fight back. Only excessive force was used, because if brutality was exercised, most probably the protester would have died.]
A total of 50 protesters and 34 police officers were injured.
PNP: Driver protected the van
Pedroso told CNN Philippines on Wednesday he ordered Kho to move the police van because it was getting damaged in the protest.
Albayalde said that Kho, being the authorized driver of the police mobile, felt responsible to protect the vehicle from the protesters.
“Kitang-kita naman namin na talagang walang sapat na dahilan para gawin nung driver yon. I’m sure he did not have this intention para sagasahan itong ating mga kababayan,” Magalong added.
[Translation: It is evident there is not enough reason for the driver to do that. I’m sure he did not have the intention to ram our countrymen.]
Albayalde also said Kho may be held culpable for gross misconduct if there was a violation of procedures during rallies. He may also be held liable for serious physical injuries for those who may have been hurt when he ran over the protesters.
“Bakit kasi nila pinayagan yung sasakyan na iyon was in front of them, not at the back. Doon papasok yung ating Investigation doon papasok yung mga lapses that were committed during that incident,” he said.
[Translation: Why was the van permitted to be in front and not at the back. That’s where we will begin our investigation on the lapses that were committed during that incident.]
In a statement, Sandugo reiterated there is enough evidence to show the police vehicle was in no way threatened, much less at risk, during the protest.
Sandugo said it is evident in the footage the police vehicle ran forward and backward, ramming through protesters with an “intent to kill or injure.”
Kho is now under restrictive custody.
