Protesters lie on the ground after being hit by a police van during a rally against the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) in front of the US embassy in Manila on Wednesday. A Philippine police van rammed and ran over the protesters. (MNS photo)
MANILA, Oct 20 (Mabuhay) — Party-list lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc are asking the House of Representatives to investigate Wednesday’s violent dispersal in front of the US Embassy, where protesters were ran over by a police mobile.
Through House Resolution 487, the lawmakers on Thursday urged chamber to condemn the assault on the protesters, saying it was a violation of the protesters’ right to peaceably assemble as enshrined in the 1987 Philippine Constitution.
The lawmakers sought that “an immediate investigation, in aid of legislation, be conducted by the House committee on human rights, with the end view of crafting more measures protecting the interests of marginalized groups exercising their right to peaceably assemble and air their grievances, like the national minorities, and penalizing state security and police forces who violate the same.”
The resolution was filed by Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate, Gabriela Rep. Emmi de Jesus, ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio, Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao, Gabriela Rep. Arlene Rosas, and Kabataan Rep. Sarah Elago, who was among those hurt in the dispersal.
Eleven of the protesters were injured, three of whom seriously, and hospitalized after being ran over by the vehicle driven by P03 Franklin Kho of the Manila Police District during Wednesday’s demonstration at the US Embassy.
At least 42 others were also arrested by the police, said the lawmakers. Other protesters were injured after police used water cannons, truncheons and tear gas, they added.
The resolution said the action of the police officer driving the mobile, which was well documented by the media, was “clearly premeditated and not only aimed to maim the protestors but even to kill, as he showed no regard to the lives of the people mowed down by the police car.”
The resolution said the violent dispersal was the result of Sr. Supt. Marcelino Pedrozo not wanting “to lose face and be reprimanded by US Embassy Officials.”
“Congress must not allow such fascistic actions of the Philippine National Police to prosper under the new administration, particularly against the marginalized sector of our society like the national minorities,” read the House resolution.
The resolution said the protesters were part of at least 3,0000 Moro and indigenous peoples from communities all over the country who came to Metro Manila beginning October 13 to assert their “long-trampled” right to self-determination, to push the campaign for a just and lasting peace and support the call for a truly independent foreign policy by the Duterte administration.
Protesters at the US Embassy gathered to express their continuing objections to the presence of US troops in the country, particularly during the Balikatan exercises held in their ancestral lands.
“They also expressed their strong support to the Duterte administration’s assertion of an independent foreign policy, away from the dictate and influence by western countries, particularly the US,” read the resolution.
Earlier in the day, the NCRPO announced the relief of Pedrozo and eight other police officers from their respective posts pending results of the investigation on the incident. (MNS)