RAM. Screenshots from an Associated Press video posted on Youtube shows a police van ploughing through demonstrators outside the US Embassy in Manila on Wednesday. The incident has sparked a public outrage over the intolerance of the police toward citizens exercising the right to free expression. The woman in green has been identified as Nicole Soria.
For his part, Jomorito Goaynon, chairperson of northern Mindanao lumad group Kalumbay, had only one word to describe the dispersal on Wednesday: brutal. Goaynon was one of the demonstrators in front of the US Embassy.
According to Goaynon, they were there to stage a protest to call for the abrogation of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca). They also demanded the trashing of mining concessions and agricultural plantations that are all allegedly backed by the US.
“Maski ako naigo ko sa batuta sa akong bukton,” said Goaynon. He was also among those who were sideswiped by the police van.
Goaynon said five of the demonstrators from northern Mindanao were arrested.
“Dili lang ni physical injury, naglapas sila sa among katungod. Ang ilang tumong ug tuyo pamatyon mi. Mao nang magpahamtang mi’g kaso nga murder, ga-studyohan pa kini sa among abogado karon,” Goaynon said.
The police in northern Mindanao was also saddened over the violence.
Camp Alagar spokesman Supt. Surki Sereñas said it has never been the policy of the National Police to inflict injury on anyone. Neither does it allow violence and use of excessive force in all its undertakings and police operations, he added.
Sereñas said he felt bad watching what he called as an “unacceptable action of that policeman.” He was referring to PO3 Franklin Kho who drove the police van and ploughed through the protesters.
“We hope that appropriate cases will be filed against the personnel responsible for this unfortunate event,” he said.
He said the National Police is currently investigating the violent dispersal.
RAM. Screenshots from an Associated Press video posted on Youtube shows a police van ploughing through demonstrators outside the US Embassy in Manila on Wednesday. The incident has sparked a public outrage over the intolerance of the police toward citizens exercising the right to free expression. The woman in green has been identified as Nicole Soria.
For his part, Jomorito Goaynon, chairperson of northern Mindanao lumad group Kalumbay, had only one word to describe the dispersal on Wednesday: brutal. Goaynon was one of the demonstrators in front of the US Embassy.
According to Goaynon, they were there to stage a protest to call for the abrogation of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca). They also demanded the trashing of mining concessions and agricultural plantations that are all allegedly backed by the US.
“Maski ako naigo ko sa batuta sa akong bukton,” said Goaynon. He was also among those who were sideswiped by the police van.
Goaynon said five of the demonstrators from northern Mindanao were arrested.
“Dili lang ni physical injury, naglapas sila sa among katungod. Ang ilang tumong ug tuyo pamatyon mi. Mao nang magpahamtang mi’g kaso nga murder, ga-studyohan pa kini sa among abogado karon,” Goaynon said.
The police in northern Mindanao was also saddened over the violence.
Camp Alagar spokesman Supt. Surki Sereñas said it has never been the policy of the National Police to inflict injury on anyone. Neither does it allow violence and use of excessive force in all its undertakings and police operations, he added.
Sereñas said he felt bad watching what he called as an “unacceptable action of that policeman.” He was referring to PO3 Franklin Kho who drove the police van and ploughed through the protesters.
“We hope that appropriate cases will be filed against the personnel responsible for this unfortunate event,” he said.
He said the National Police is currently investigating the violent dispersal.
