Militants vandalize PNP HQ gate

From Malaya Business Insight (Apr ): Militants vandalize PNP HQ gate



MORE than 50 members of militant groups yesterday vandalized the EDSA gate of Camp Crame in protest of the violent dispersal of farmers in Kidapawan City who were seeking relief from the effects of the El Nino. 

Led by Kilusang Mayo Uno, the militants picketed the EDSA gate of the PNP headquarters and held a short program where they dramatized the arrest of President Aquino, Agriculture

Secretary Proceso Alcala, and North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Talino-Mendoza in connection with the dispersal of the farmers.

Not contented, they vandalized the camp’s gate with red paint.

They also condemned the filing of charges against protesting farmers, calling the government “insensitive.”

PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor said charges are being prepared by the Quezon City Police District against those who vandalized Camp Crame’s gate.

“In expressing or invoking your rights as a citizen it is also expected that you respect others rights. Your rights should not jeopardize others’ rights and others’ properties,” Mayor said.
 

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Cristina Palabay, secretary-general of human rights group Karapatan, said her group’s investigation pegged the number of fatalities to two, namely, Enrico Fabligar and Darwin Sulang, who both died from gunshot wounds.

Palabay said their investigation also showed that at least 44 individuals sustained injuries.

She said Sulang’s family belied that he died from cardio respiratory arrest, secondary to head injury due to mauling.

She said a death certificate submitted by Sulang’s family issued by a Dr. Edgar Gantuangco from the Kidapawan Doctor’s Hospital, showed that  Sulang had a wound at the back of his head and a puncture wound in the frontal area secondary to mauling.

However, the certificate had no signature of Gantuangco.

Palabay said the victims were both civilians who only happened to be in the barricade site at the time of the dispersal.

She said 10 persons suffered severe gunshot injuries, 22 sustained gunshot wounds but with less serious injuries, while others were hurt from truncheon blows.

She said two eyewitnesses saw some policemen on top of a fire truck firing their guns at the protesters.

Palabay said at least 70 individuals, including Richard Emboc and Eric Santos, who were merely bystanders, were illegally arrested for charges of direct assault. Among those arrested were 25 women, including three who are pregnant and three elderly.

She said the arrested individuals are detained at the Kidapawan City Gym and Kidapawan Convention Center.

She claimed there were documented attempts of the police and some local officials to destroy evidence and to clear the crime scene through burning of personal effects confiscated from the protesters.

She added that government was also liable for the violence for its failure to provide relief to thousands of farmers in North Cotabato who are affected by the drought.

Palabay demanded an investigation of North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Mendoza, President Aquino, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, and police and military officials in Central Mindanao.

She said she will submit the full findings of the investigation and recommendations before the Senate today, when it conducts its hearing on the violent dispersal, and the Commission on Human Rights, the United Nations and the lawyers of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers.

Sen. Francis Escudero condemned the filing of charges against the protesting farmers, saying government has not even addressed their concerns.

The Senate committee on justice and human rights, chaired by Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, flew to Davao City yesterday to conduct a public hearing and consultation on the dispersal last week.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/militants-vandalize-pnp-hq-gate