62 hurt, 9 detained in SONA rally

QUEZON CITY, Philippines – (5th Update) At least 62 people, including 21 cops, were injured in a clash that broke out between police and protesters at a rally in front of a popular shopping mall along Commonwealth Avenue.

Dora Solmayor of Anakbayan-NCR said at least 41 protestors were injured, including 2 senior citizens. The PNP said at least 21 policemen were injured. 

Protesters from Southern Luzon tried to break the police lines in front of St. Peter’s Church at 10am. They threw rocks and eggs at the policemen after failing to break the barricade. They carried posters with slogans like “3 taong kahirapan at kawalang katarungan” (3 years of poverty and injustice) and “Itakwil and rehimeng US-Aquino” (Reject the US-Aquino regime). 

Other militant groups joined the Southern Luzon group at 11am, July 22. The protesters broke the fence and crossed the eastbound lanes of Commonwealth Avenue, the only part of the road open to traffic.

“Wolves under sheep’s clothing talaga sila,” said Renato Reyes of Bayan, “Kunwari mabait pero sa likod pala sandamakmak na police. Yung mga kasamahan namin hindi umaabante. Nagkaroon ng negosasyon. Pati ang pulis sabi hindi sila aabante. Pero sa gitna ng usapan, treachery nangyari. Biglang tumulak sila at pinabalik ang mga protesters. Kaya nagkaroon ng mataas na tension.”

(They pretend they are few but there are a lot of police in the back. Our ranks didn’t break the protest line. We had a negotiation. The police also said they wouldn’t break the line. But in the middle of talks, there was treachery. They started pushing us back. That’s why the tension increased.) 

The scuffle caused heavy traffic in the area. Police later re-routed eastbound vehicles to the Holy Spirit drive. 

The police were able to push the protestors back to the original area reserved for them in front of the Ever Gotesco mall, where they held a program.

Also present at the protest action were activists from international human rights organizations and observers from the Commission on Human Rights.

Illegal detention?

According to the Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP (STAND UP), the police detained 2 students from the University of the Philippines and 7 protesters from other sectors.

In a Facebook post, STAND UP named Kyel Munoz of the Asian Institute for Tourism and Ramdass Israel of the College of Science as among those who were illegally arrested during the protest. 

The students and protesters were detained in Camp Karingal.

Atty Edre Olalio said the groups are considering filing charges against the police.

“It’s an option. We’re looking at this possibility but we still have to discuss,” Olalio told Rappler. 

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU) of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said that the detainees are still in Camp Karingal and that they may be released by July 23. – Rappler.com