9 Manila cops relieved after clash with protesters

Bea Cupin

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9 Manila cops relieved after clash with protesters

Rob Reyes

'It’s not conviction or punishment. This does not necessarily mean that they’re guilty,' NCRPO director Chief Superintendent Oscar Albayalde says

MANILA, Philippines – At least 9 policemen, almost all of them commissioned officers from the Manila Police District (MPD) were sacked from their posts on Thursday, October 20, a day after a violent and controversial clash between personnel from their ranks and protesters in front of the United States embassy

According to National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Chief Superintendent Oscar Albayalde, among those relieved are:

  • Senior Superintendent Marcelino Pedrozo, MPD Deputy Director for Operations and over-all superivisor
  • Superintendent Albert Barot, MPD station 5 commander and ground commander
  • Chief Inspector Dionelle Brannon, Pedro Gil Police Community Precinct commander
  • Chief Inspector Elmer Oseo, Station 5 deputy 
  • Chief Inspector Joebie Astucia, Station 5 chief of operatons 
  • Chief Inspector Roberto Marinda, company commander CRB (agumentation)
  • Chief Inspector Roberto Manguna, company commander US Embassy detail 
  • Senior Inspector Edgardo Orongan, chief of operations District Public Safety Battalion 

Albayalde said they were “administratively relieved to pave the way for the investigation.” 

Also relieved was Police Officer 3 Franklin Kho, who rammed into the crowd of protesters to disperse them. He drove forward then reversed, leaving several hurt and at least one man stuck under the police vehicle. At least 30 were arrested as a result of the clash.

“It’s not conviction or punishment. This does not necessarily mean that they’re guilty,” Albayalde told Rappler in a phone interview. 

The 8 have been recalled to the NCRPO’s personnel holding and accounting unit. Several other police are also under “restrictive custody” by the MPD pending investigation. The MPD, the NCRPO, and the PNP headquarters through the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) will be probing the incident. 

Another 40 police personnel – from the MPD’s Civil Disturbance Management unit – were placed under the “restrictive custody” of Manila police pending investigation. According to MPD chief Senior Superintendent Joel Coronel, these were the cops on the ground during the incident. 

Police have been criticized for supposed using undue force is dispersing the protesters, composed mostly of indigenous people rallying against US presence in the Philippines. 

The protest was organized by Sandugo, a newly-formed alliance of minority groups. The groups that participated are part of the “Lakbayan ng Pambansang Minorya para sa Sariling Pagpapasya at Makatarungang Kapayapaan,” a caravan of minority groups from across the country.

The country’s top cop, Director General Ronald dela Rosa, in a statement read by the PNP’s spokesman, expressed concern over the clash but at the same time said the PNP will “look into this squarely and deal with it decisively.”

Dela Rosa is currently in China for an official work visit. – Rappler.com 

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Bea Cupin

Bea is a senior multimedia reporter who covers national politics. She's been a journalist since 2011 and has written about Congress, the national police, and the Liberal Party for Rappler.