By Raymund B. Villanueva
For Kodao Productions
NEARLY 300 people remain in police custody without formal charges, three days after a protest on Sunday erupted into clashes. Human rights groups are now calling the situation a “full-blown human rights crisis.”
The legal group Karapatan and the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) say between 216 and 277 people were arrested and are being held at nine police stations across the city. The youngest detainee is nine years old.
Only 20 of those arrested have undergone inquest proceedings, which began Tuesday afternoon, September 23, under a single prosecutor, causing further delays for the detainees to post bail.
The NUPL said it expects more proceedings to be held today and is asking for additional volunteers to assist the detainees.
In a press conference, Mayor Francisco Domagoso announced that the detainees face charges including illegal assembly, malicious mischief and direct assault. Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla and palace spokesperson Claire Castro also hinted at possible sedition and terrorism charges.
However, the NUPL says authorities are the ones who should be held liable. The group alleges the majority of those detained had no organizational affiliations, many were peaceful participants or bystanders who were simply fleeing for safety when they were apprehended.
The NUPL also said many of the detainees were arrested without legal basis, targeted only for their appearance and presence in the area. They were not read their Miranda rights, and police could not provide the names of the arresting officers.
The lawyers also allege widespread and systematic physical abuse and torture.
One individual underwent surgery for a fractured jaw, and several others, including minors, were seen with bruises. The group said several detainees were forced to assault each other while being beaten by police.
The NUPL added that families were pressured by police to coerce their children into admitting to crimes they did not commit.
On Monday, families were denied visitation rights at the Manila Police District and were turned away without information on their missing relatives.
The group said that detainees were not provided with food or water, and many survived only through food delivered by family members.
Another group, the Department of Health, reported that a 36-year-old man was fatally wounded Sunday along Recto Avenue.
The NUPL disputed claims by the Philippine National Police that it exercised “maximum tolerance,” citing videos and photos posted online showing police officers beating arrestees.
Another video reportedly shows a police officer dragging a minor into a Sogo hotel to be beaten by people inside. Remulla had previously claimed police did not fire live bullets or tear gas.
The NUPL said it “strongly condemns” the police’s “appalling conduct” and called the arrests “reprehensible and unacceptable.”
“We are prepared to pursue all available remedies against the police officers and officials responsible,” the group said.
The group added: “We will also exhaust all possible avenues to ensure full accountability for these grave abuses.” (This article was first published by Kodao Productions (https://kodao.org)
