MANILA, Philippines – Five policemen sustained injuries during protest actions against the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit on Thursday, November 19. (READ: Why Manila for APEC meet?)
All 5, from different regions outside of Metro Manila, were members of Civil Disturbance Management (CDM) personnel deployed to be the front-liners of the mass protest actions against the key regional meeting attended by leaders like US President Barack Obama, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Ahead of the reports on the injured cops, Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor, spokesman for the APEC security task force, even thanked militant groups who voluntarily dispersed during protests held on Wednesday, November 18 or the start of the APEC meeting.
“We acknowledge the gesture of cooperation by leaders of militant organizations with our security forces that voluntarily dispersed their illegal mass actions yesterday in separate locations around Metro Manila,” Mayor said at the time.
The Interior Department had earlier announced it would strictly implement the “no permit, no rally” rule during the week-long summit. Mayor said none of the local government units (LGUs) hosting an APEC event or an APEC leader approved any permits to rally.
In a Thursday press statement, the PNP said the following police personnel were injured:
- Police Officer 1 (PO1) Mark Andrew Dela Cruz (from Police Regional Office 3, Bulacan PPSC detailed at Liwasang Bonifacio) who sustained abrasion in mid-forehead area
- PO1 Rowel John P Felipe (from PRO 3, Bulacan PPSC detailed at Liwasang Bonifacio) who sustained abrasion in both forearm and elbow area
- PO1 Michael Angeles (from PRO 3, Bulacan PPSC detailed at Liwasang Bonifacio) who sustained abrasion on right forearm
- PO1 Christian Nataon (from PRO 2 detailed at Buendia) who sustained laceration wound in right cheek
- PO3 Leandro Belenio Jr (from PRO Cordillera detailed at Buendia) who had heat exhaustion
Both Interior Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento and PNP chief Director General Ricardo Marquez visited the 5 hurt cops on Thursday afternoon. Marquez is also the commander of the APEC security task force.
Although the Wednesday protests went by without a hitch, it was the Thursday protest that turned out to be controversial for security forces.
Police had earlier said they would be exercising “maximum tolerance” in handling APEC protests. Some 10,000 CDM personnel were deployed all around the Philippine mega city to prevent protesters from reaching restricted areas.
A group gathered near Roxas Boulevard were doused with water cannons, as a way to “cool down,” said Mayor. Dispersal methods in other areas were decidedly less vicious.
According to reports, police in another protest area began playing pop songs and party music to drown out chants by activist groups.
In both instances, protesters dispersed after a while.
Protests in the Philippines have a history of violence. During President Benigno Aquino III’s last State of the Nation Address, cops and protesters figured in clashes, with police accused of undue brutality.
The PNP later charged several militant activists for allegedly detaining and harming two intelligence operatives during the same SONA.
Mass actions were on top of security officials’ concerns, in additional to terror threats. The Chinese delegation, in particular, cited protests directed against them as one of their top concerns. – Rappler.com