2013 News
(Updated 4:59 p.m.) The Philippine National Police is determined to press charges against members of cause-oriented groups who stormed the National Anti-Poverty Commission Office in Quezon City on Thursday and beat up at least three police officers in the process.
In a statement released Friday, the PNP said it was gathering “all available video footage and photographs of the violent rampage” to identify who were involved in attacking QCPD personnel who were “diligently doing their duty as enforcers of the law.”
The police statement, quoting PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr., condemned the “violent assault” against the police.
The PNP will also file a complaint before the Commission on Human Rights over the incident.
Meanwhile, QCPD Station 2 head Superintendent Pedro Sanchez went to the CHR to inform CHR chairperson Loretta Ann Rosales that the militants ganged up on several police officers last Thursday, radio dzBB's Divine Caraecle reported.
Sanchez himself was injured in the face during the clash. The dzBB report quoted QCPD head Senior Superintendent Richard Albano as saying they are now preparing a formal complaint to file with the CHR.
On Thursday, members of militant groups, led by the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, staged a protest at the compound of the Department of Agriculture, where the NAPC office is also located.
A report aired on GMA News' 24Oras on Thursday noted that tension flared up when DAR officials and the police did not allow the dialogue between the protesters and NAPC head Joel Rocamora.
They protesters wanted to talk with Rocamora over allegations that he is using the coco levy fund for the campaign activities of Akbayan party-list, of which he was served as former president. Rocamora has denied the allegations.
Authorities used a fire extinguisher to deter the protesters, even as the television report said that a police officer brandished an armalite which angered the militants. As a result, the report said at least three police officers were beaten up by some of the protesters. — with Gian C. Geronimo/RSJ, GMA News
