6 cops hurt in Quiapo raid

Six policemen were hurt, while a man was hit by a stray bullet when vendors clashed with Manila Police District (MPD) operatives who were conducting a raid on sellers of pornographic digital video discs (DVD) in Quiapo, Manila yesterday.

Superintendent Romulo Sapitula, chief of the District Intelligence and Investigation Division (DIID), said the raid was prompted by complaints from religious groups that DVDs were being sold in the streets.

At around 10 a.m., six DIID operatives tried to arrest the vendors along Arlegui corner Gunao streets in Quiapo. But as they were leading the arrested vendors to police vehicles, some 15 male vendors reportedly hurled stones and empty bottles to the cops.

Two vendors also attempted but failed to disarm PO2 Richie Yapit, who sustained bruises when he wrestled with his attackers.

During the clash, successive gunshots were fired at the direction of the operatives, prompting the officers to fire warning shots in the air.

Only the intervention of elders in the area prevented the incident from turning into a full-blown shootout. A man, identified as Edres Manges, 23, was reportedly hit by a stray bullet in the right shoulder and was rushed to the Philippine General Hospital.

He is now reportedly in a stable condition.

Aside from Yapit, PO2s Russel Antonio, Reynaldo Mallari, Cornelio Vicente, Gregorio Lopez and Mark Anthony Vitales were also treated for contusions and abrasions at the Ospital ng Maynila.

Senior Superintendent Danilo Abarzosa, MPD officer-in-charge, rushed to the scene of the clash and talked with village officials and elders.

He assured the vendors that the police are only after the DVDs and would not meddle with their legal businesses.

In turn, Office of Muslim Affairs director for Metro Manila Mohammad Tanggote also pledged to police their rank against sellers of illegal DVDs.