Protester grabs cop's gun, gets arrested

MANILA, Philippines - One of at least 100 protesters who staged a rally in front of the San Juan city hall was arrested yesterday when he tried to grab the service firearm of a passing policeman.

Buban Senen, 23, a resident of P. Narciso street in Barangay Corazon de Jesus, was handcuffed and brought to the San Juan police station.

However, city police chief Senior Superintendent Procopio Lipana ordered Senen released “in the spirit of the Christmas season” pending the filing of physical injuries charges against him before the city’s prosecutor’s office.

Senen and members of at least 50 squatter families staged a rally yesterday to protest the demolition of their houses at the Pinaglabanan Shrine next year to give way to a road project.

Lipana said Senen tried to grab the firearm of a passing policeman in civilian clothes and triggered a confrontation between protesters and policemen.

City public information office chief Grace Cortez said the demolition was scheduled long ago and a “notice to vacate” was issued to the informal settlers two days ago.

The city government, she said, will relocate the affected residents to a resettlement area in Calauan, Laguna.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development also offered the affected residents “start-up money” for them to start new lives in the resettlement area.