Senators grill PNP over use of guns during Kidapawan clash

From GMA News (Apr 7): Senators grill PNP over use of guns during Kidapawan clash

Senators on Thursday questioned why police fired their guns during the April 1 farmers' protest in Kidapawan City in Cotabato.

During the hearing of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said loss of lives could have been prevented if the police observed maximum tolerance and did not carry guns.

"Bakit may baril habang nagdi-disperse? Sa mga nakaraang massacre, napag-alaman ng madaming committee na pag may baril, ipuputok mo dahil sugatan ka din, galit ka din, nakikita mo kapwa pulis. Kaya dapat walang baril," he said.

He cited Section 10 of Batas Pambansa 880, which states that "the members of the law enforcement contingent shall not carry any kind of firearms, but may be equipped with baton or riot sticks, shields, crash helmets with visor, gas masks, boots or ankle high shoes with shin guards."

But the Philippine National Police said carrying of firearms is allowed as part of the security component of the Civil Disturbance Management (CDM).

[Editor's note: Rule 23 Section 3-a of the PNP Operational Procedures which spells out the guidelines for Civil Disturbance Management Contingent during rallies and demonstrations state "CDM contingent must be in prescribed uniform and without firearm]

Cayetano disagreed, noting the prohibition applies to all law enforcers, including CDM units, who are dealing with protesters.

Three people composed of two farmers and a bystander died from the clash while more than 140 anti-riot police were reportedly injured including two in critical condition due to head trauma.

Cotabato provincial police chief Senior Supt. Alexander Tagum defended the use of firearms, saying the lives of his men were in danger due to some protesters who were allegedly carrying guns.

"There was an imminent death of my colleague (who was hit by a bullet). So I said 'tulungan natin.' That’s when I heard gun fire. It was the judgment...of my security team (to use firearms)," he said.

Tagum added the threat that there might be an active shooter among protesters is real because of the presence of insurgents in Cotabato.

"We have three guerilla fronts of the New People's Army and three base commands of the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front). There is threat that NPA (New People's Army) can enter the rally," he said.

Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, the committee chairman, however, said the police's decision to open fire on protesters was still wrong.

"Superintendent Tagum was trying to justify it as saving the life of the fellow men. Pero it’s wrong," the lawmaker said.

Another hearing will be held in Manila on a still undisclosed date to allow Cabinet secretaries to explain the national government's response to the effects of the El Niño, which state weather forecasters had predicted to occur in the country as early as 2014. 

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/561855/news/nation/senators-grill-pnp-over-use-of-guns-during-kidapawan-clash