QCPD to sue protesters in violent NAPC rally

MANILA, Philippines - With President Aquino backing them, Quezon City policemen yesterday said they are planning to file criminal charges against protesters who staged a violent rally at the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) last week.

“They have gone too far. It would not be fair if we just let this pass,” Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director Senior Superintendent Richard Albano said, referring to the protesters.

Albano said the President talked to them regarding the filing of cases against the protesters.

“We were not doing anything wrong to them. And yet they even snatched our guns that were inside the police car,” he added.

The guns were recovered following a clash between the rallyists and the policemen.

Albano said they are eyeing to file charges of indirect assault on persons in authority, illegal assembly and robbery against the protesters, including Willy Marbella of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP).

Superintendent Pedro Sanchez, commander of QCPD-Station 2, was among those hurt after he was hit by a wooden pole by the rallyists.

“It was a riot and not a peaceful assembly,” Sanchez said.

Five other policemen were also injured during the melee.

They were Senior Inspector Rodel Flores Urbina, Police Officer 2 Jimmy Prado Margarito, and Police Officers 1 Mark Grecia Epelipcia, Olinad Isip Sugui, and Mariz Gian Gonzales Flores.

Albano, Sanchez and other policemen met with Justice Secretary Leila de Lima yesterday morning to consult her regarding the filing of charges against the rallyists.

According to Albano, it was also a consensus among the injured policemen to file the complaints.

He said there was no provocation from his men. The protesters were not even dispersed, he added.

The violent protest last Thursday inside the main office of the NAPC stemmed from the alleged plan of NAPC chief Joel Rocamora to use P11.7 billion of the coconut levy funds for alleged tainted projects of the Aquino administration.

Hundreds of small coconut farmers from Southern Tagalog and Bicol provinces entered the NAPC compound.