PNP chief on SONA violence: Wrong, unacceptable

MANILA, Philippines - The attack by protesters on two police officers during a rally hours before President Aquino delivered his State of the Nation Address (SONA) was “wrong and unacceptable,” Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ricardo Marquez said yesterday.

He said the PNP will file charges against the protesters who detained and beat up Chief Inspector Antonio Ananayao Jr. and Police Officer 1 Reden Malagonio, both intelligence operatives of the National Capital Region Police Office, along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.

Marquez visited Ananayao, who remains confined at the PNP General Hospital for head injuries.

He said the PNP is shouldering the medical expenses of the two policemen.

Quezon City Police District director Chief Superintendent Joel Pagdilao said they are considering seeking assistance from the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in filing charges against the protesters.

CHR chairman Chito Gascon said the agency will investigate the reported incidents of violence during the anti-SONA rally and “make appropriate recommendations.”

A little respect   

Marquez said the PNP allowed the protesters to gather on Commonwealth Avenue’s eastbound lane but they still went beyond the barricades set up and even attacked police officers.   

“That is so much already. We respect their right, they should respect ours. They should also respect the rights of our lawmen carrying out their duties in a democratic society. That’s not acceptable, that’s wrong,” Marquez said.

Ananayao and Malagonio, who were in civilian attire, were accosted by protesters for taking photographs. They were taken inside a jeepney rented by a militant group and beaten by the protesters. They also lost their mobile phones and wallets.

Marquez said they are waiting for the results of CT scans and magnetic resonance imaging exams on Ananayao to determine if he sustained internal injuries from the beating.

Returning equipment   

Meanwhile, members of the militant groups Karapatan and Bayan trooped to the Santolan gate of Camp Crame to return the police equipment they took during the SONA rally on Monday.

Dorris Cuario of the Karapatan said they do not intend to apologize – they simply returned the equipment to prove they did not steal them.

Authorities from Camp Crame, which houses the PNP headquarters, told the QCPD Station 7 to retrieve its equipment. – With Robertzon Ramirez, Janvic Mateo