Regardless if Malacanang grounds was a no-rally zone, the police clearly exceeded the necessary force to repel or to prevent any danger, real or apparent, that the students posed. Sure, the students may have risked being arrested, or blocked at the least, but they did not have to be confronted with rifles, contrary to well-settled rules of engagement, be dragged on asphalt, have their clothes ripped apart, and be be beaten up.
Kabataan Party-list Rep. Mong Palatino strongly condemns the violent dispersal of youth and student protesters who held a lightning rally in Mendiola earlier today.
Palatino said, “After insulting the public’s intelligence by spewing out ridiculous lies and alibis to justify Arroyo’s lavish dinners, authorities are now resorting to excessive force and violence to quell disgust over the administration’s gluttony amidst widespread crisis and poverty.”
“This is not right and downright unjust. Hindi natin puwedeng palagpasin ito. Hindi na nga makapagpaliwanag ng maayos ang pangulo sa publiko, ngayon naman halos patayin sa suntok, bugbog st sipa ang mga kabataang nagpoprotesta. Kung dati’y mga mamahaling dinner lang ang hindi natin masikmura, ngayon nadagdagan pa ang dahilan para lalo tayong masuklam sa administrasyong ito,” Palatino said.
The young solon said that he will file a resolution directing the House Committee on Human Rights to immediately conduct an investigation of the violent dispersal.
Palatino added that his office’s legal team is also studying filing legal charges against police authorities and members of the Presidential Security Group who clearly used excessive force and have violated their protocols of engagement, with news footage and photos as evidence.#
photos from the Associated Press (by Aaron Favila) and Reuters (by Romeo Ranoco)
law student, national democracy activist, film school graduate, photography hobbyist