DSWD assists wounded, detained rallyists; supports call for investigation

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 21): DSWD assists wounded, detained rallyists; supports call for investigation

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Thursday it is assisting the wounded and injured victims of the violent dispersal of rallyists near the United States Embassy in Manila on Wednesday.

The demonstrators, including students and members of indigenous groups, were then protesting the presence of American troops in the country.

In a dialogue held at the University of the Philippines- Diliman Campus in Quezon City on Thursday, attended by indigenous peoples (IPs) as well as supporters from other groups, DSWD Assistant Secretary Maria Lourdes Turalde-Jarabe told them that DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo personally visited the wounded victims in the hospitals.

“Secretary Taguiwalo also went to the Manila Police District (MPD)… And I want to share to you that those detained yesterday were already released,” Turalde-Jarabe said.

She added that the conditions of policemen allegedly hurt in the dispersal were also checked by the DSWD Chief herself.

“At gusto kong ipaabot na kailangan talaga na imbestigahan ang nangyaring ito… At makikita, sa unang pagtingin pa lang, na hindi patas ang nangyari… Mas marami ang nasugatan po at nasaktan mula sa hanay ng Lakbayan ng Pambansang Minorya at mga taga-suporta nila (There is really a need for investigation on this matter… And we can see at first glance that unfairness occurred),” she said.

She also told the Lakbayani and supporters that since the Mamamasapano incident, Secretary Taguiwalo and other officials of the department had led in providing assistance to the Lumads.

“Dahil ayaw na ho naming mangyari na bala ang ibinibigay samantalang ang hinihingi ay bigas,” she added, citing that such help was given to the Lumads in Regions 10, 11 and 12 to prove that assistance can be given without resorting to violence to those affected by El Nino.

She repeated the commitment of the agency to continuously bring the needed assistance to the vulnerable IPs and other minorities for the purpose of survival.

“Ang serbisyo na kaya naming ibigay ay hindi po namin ipagkakait…Kami po ay tutulong sa mga kapatid na nangangailangan ng serbisyo at suporta at pangangatawanan po namin na sa pangungunana nito ay walang korupsyon, sisikapin po namin na ang serbisyo ay talagang mapunta sa ating mga kababayan at ito po ang aming gagawin sa mga susunod na araw hanggang sa matapos ang anim na taon namin sa departamento,” she said.

In a related statement, Secretary Taguiwalo said that in her desire to hear the version also of the policemen claiming that they have sustained injuries, she cited her observation that none of them were hurt enough to need to be taken to the hospital.

“They said that the videos of the skirmish that are now circulating speak for themselves and show what really happened, I agreed,” she said.

In speeches during the dialogue and in placards, representatives of Sandugo, a national alliance of Moro and IPs, said they also condemned Senior Supt. Marcelino Pedrozo, deputy director for Operations of the Manila Police District (MPD) who allegedly ordered the dispersal.

They unanimously cited that Pedrozo ordered the police to fight as they feared of how they would be looked upon by the US Embassy if they had done nothing.

According to the testimonies of the rally participants, the violent act was done before other speakers finished airing their grievances in condemning the US, asking for ending of militarization of their rural communities.

In the midst of it all also, DSWD said they will support the declaration of the Philippine National Police that it will conduct an internal investigation to get to the bottom of the violence that transpired.

“It is most unfortunate that such incidents of violence continue to take place despite the existence of the rules of engagement that police officers should follow and implement. These rules are meant to protect civilians during mass actions and democratic protests as well as police officers as well,” the DSWD Chief said.

Secretary Taguiwalo further said respect must come from both sides of the divide — protestors and police forces, but it cannot be denied that the balance of power during protests and dispersal is definitely tipped in favor of the police because they are trained for physical confrontations and armed.

”Because of this, our police and other armed forces must always exercise restraint and circumspection during protests. They must not forget that their role is to serve and protect the citizenry first and foremost,” she added.

Meanwhile, in the press briefing that followed the dialogue, Kabataan Party-list Rep. Sarah Elago said that she has filed a resolution urging the House of Representatives to condemn the violent dispersal of the groups led by minorities.

In House Resolution No. 486, Elago also called on the House Committee on Human Rights to conduct a probe and summon to Congress those involved in the violent dispersal of the rallyists.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=933119