EVAT riot

Police arrested nine members of a militant group when they tried to force their way to Malacañang during a rally against the expanded value-added tax (EVAT) yesterday afternoon.

Seven rallyists, mostly members of Akbayan, were hurt when they clashed with anti-riot policemen. Senior Police Officer 2 Milan Naz was also hurt after he was hit on both legs with rocks thrown by retreating rallyists.

The injured were taken to the Ospital ng Maynila and Jose Reyes

Memorial Medical Center for treatment.

Police said more than a hundred rallyists started to assemble at the foot of the Chino Roces (formerly Mendiola) bridge at around 11 a.m.

After unfurling their streamers and banners denouncing the 12 percent EVATthat took effect yesterday, rallyists tried to break through the phalanx of anti-riot policemen in an attempt to enter Malacañang grounds through Gate 7.

Anti-riot policemen stood their ground and started arresting defiant rallyists, precipitating a clash.

Brought to the General Assignment Section of the Manila Police District were Rodolfo Gaco, Ernesto Gepte, Marco de Lara, Jane Arzabal, Artenian Magpayo, James Cruz, Ma. Dolores Paño, Marilou Evangelo and Leslie Gingco.

Police said they will charge the rallyists with violation of Batas Pambansa 880 for illegal assembly since they had no permit to stage the rally.

Gaco, who sustained abrasions on both arms, admitted his group intentionally did not apply for a permit, saying they only wanted "to voice the sentiments of the poor Filipino families that will be greatly affected by the raising of the EVAT."

"I don’t mind getting hit. What is more painful is the effect of the raising of the EVAT," he said.

Another arrested rallyist denounced the police for their failure to observe maximum tolerance.

"Bakit ganoon. Pati ang mga hindi nagpumilit pumunta sa Malacañang pinag-aaresto nila," the rallyist said. "Tulad ko, nasa isang tabi lang, hinuli nila. Ano ba kasalanan ko?"

Akbayan legal counsel Byron Bocar said his group is still studying whether to file charges against the Manila policemen for the injuries sustained by the rallyists.

Police had been placed on alert for expected rallies to be staged by militant groups opposed to the EVAT.