2016 U.S. Embassy protest in Manila
| 2016 U.S. Embassy protest | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Protests against Rodrigo Duterte | |||
| Date | October 19, 2016 | ||
| Location | |||
| Caused by | Activism against United States military presence | ||
| Methods |
| ||
| Resulted in | Demonstrators violently dispersed, with some rammed by a police van | ||
| Parties | |||
| Number | |||
| |||
| Casualties and losses | |||
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A protest that occurred in front of the U.S. embassy in Manila, Philippines led to a violent dispersal on October 19, 2016.
Protest
[edit]A protest, led by national minority groups, namely SANDUGO and Lakbayan ng Pambansang Minorya para sa Sariling Pagpapasya at Makatarungang Kapayapaan, gathered in front of the U.S. embassy in Manila. The protest was to demand an end to the Oplan Bayanihan, a counterinsurgency campaign and the pulling out of troops and militias from indigenous people's communities.[2] Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) secretary general Renato Reyes, Jr. said that the violent dispersal, which happened when the protest was about to conclude, was "planned and ordered" by a certain Col. Marcelino Pedroso.[3] The protest turned violent when a police vehicle accelerating back-and-forth hit several protestors.[4] The incident of ramming was recorded by the media.[5] It occurred after the protestors surrounded the vehicle and began hitting it with wooden police batons. Among them were three activists, who were taken to the hospital.[6] It was reported that the police arrested 21 individuals and brought them to the MPD.[3]
Investigation
[edit]The SANDUGO and KABATAAN party-list stated that a certain Col. Marcelino Pedroso of the Manila Police District (MPD) allegedly gave the go-ahead for the violent dispersal of the protestors,[3] while others claim that PO3 Franklin Koh — the driver of the police vehicle — ordered the violent dispersal.[7] Pedroso, however, denied the ordering of the dispersal.[7]
- Multiple attempted murder
- Serious physical injuries
- Unlawful arrest
- Violation of R.A. 7438, B.P. 880
- Obstruction of justiceGrave misconduct
- Grave abuse of authority
- Conduct unbecoming of a public officer
On October 20, the Office of the Ombudsman charged 10 policemen after the protestors filed complaints against them related to the dispersal.[8]
In October 29, it was reported that 28 police officers from the MPD filed counter-charges against the protesters for illegal assembly, direct assault on a person in authority, physical injury, resisting arrest and malicious mischief.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Police van overruns protesters in US Embassy". Rappler. Rappler. October 19, 2016. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
- ^ "Scores hurt, 3 seriously, as police patrol vehicle runs over anti-US protesters". InterAksyon. Archived from the original on 2016-10-27. Retrieved 2016-10-27.
- ^ a b c "Violent dispersal of US Embassy protesters ordered by MPD exec—groups". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
- ^ "Police vehicle plows through protesters near US Embassy". GMA News.
- ^ "TV Patrol: Mga pulis na sangkot sa marahas na dispersal, sinibak sa pwesto". YouTube. ABS-CBN News.
- ^ "Philippines police van rams protesters outside US embassy in Manila". The Guardian.
- ^ a b "Driver of police van showed intent to kill, protesters claim". GMA News.
- ^ a b "WATCH - Multiple charges filed against 10 cops for rally dispersal near US embassy". InterAksyon. Archived from the original on 2017-03-05. Retrieved 2016-10-27.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) from the original. - ^ Mangunay, Kristine Felisse (29 October 2016). "Manila cops countersue over rally violence". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
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