Rights group Hustisya is echoing the call to investigate the overkill use of water cannons to fire at protesters during the July 28 rally on Pres. Aquino's State of the Nation Address.
We condemn the use of water cannons against the protesters in the Pres. Aquino's SONA. It was uncalled for. It was a wanton display of repression by force. The PNP's use of brute force was unnecessary since the multiple barricades established by the police clearly showed that it could not be breeched by sheer human waves.
The act of shaking down the barricades was justified, but the tens of thousands of police elements, huge container vans, miles of concertina wires, and tons of concrete barriers were "overkill."
These were meant not only to curtail the protest but to intimidate people joining the rally critical of the president's SONA.
The group also decries the red-colored water coming from the fire trucks and that using polluted water is sufficient grounds to hold officials and elements of the Philippine National Police accountable in the incident.
After having doused with tainted water, many of the protesters complained of skin itchiness. The group further called on to look in to the causes and effect of the tainted water from the fire trucks.
Why on earth would they use colored water against the protesters? We refuse to believe the PNP's claims that the water was simply mixed with food coloring. The contaminated water might contain chemical elements that are hazardous to people's health. Those PNP officers who ordered the firing of contaminated water at the protesters are answerable to this ruckus.
We are calling on the people to be vigilant. The people have all the right to protest against unbridled corruption and brazen repression.
Cristina Guevarra,
Secretary General
Hustisya.