Six rallyists nabbed in front of City Hall

Six protesters were arrested by operatives of the Crowd Dispersal Management Group (CDMG) during yesterday’s rally in Manila, which was attended by more than 2,000 local farmers and fishermen from all over the country.

CDGM Chief Rolando Miranda said they dispersed the rallyists to prevent them from getting any closer to Malacañang.

"We observed maximum tolerance during the rally, but they (protesters) started to become violent," said Miranda, who claimed that the rallyists hit PO1 Joseph Kiskis, a CDGM operative, in the head, which prompted the police to retaliate.

The rallyists, however, claimed that the police dispersed them brutally and that more than 20 of them were seriously hurt.

Sammy Malunes of Anakpawis said five of their members, identified as Basilisa Pakiding, Ramon Quiambao, Nelson Apoy, Jesus Milan and Alfredo Galas, were rushed to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH).

Police are now preparing the charges against the arrested rallyists while the protesters’ group called are mulling a possible countercharges. – Edu Punay