INTERIOR Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla yesterday said last Sunday’s violent incident on Mendiola, Manila was not part of legitimate anti-corruption protests but a “paid organized attack.”
The violent confrontation injured while 216 individuals, including 86 minors, have been arrested, according to the PNP.
Citing initial findings, Remulla said some of the minors involved in the confrontation, which spread to CM Recto avenue, were paid as much as P3,000 each to cause trouble and destabilize government.
He said the minors, as young as 11 years, were recruited from the Quiapo area in Manila.
“It appears it’s an organized group … The minors were paid P3,000 each,” Remulla said in a statement in Filipino, adding authorities have videos to support this. He said investigators have identified members of the group but he did not name names.
Remulla said the organized group told its recruits to go to Malacañang and burn it down.
“Ang instruction, kung kaya niyo umabot ng palasyo, sunugin niyo. Ganoon lang. (The instruction is, if you can reach the Palace, burn it down. That’s it),” he said.
Remulla also said the people directly involved in the incident were “not cause-oriented” but “merely money-oriented.”
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Monday said initial investigations point to a former Manila politician and a lawyer as funders of the rioters. He also did not identify the “initiators or instigators” who, he said, “manipulated the rioters.
Acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr said police investigators continue to gather evidence to ensure airtight cases against the rioters.
At the Manila Police District on UN avenue, where the arrested are detained, lawyers from the National Union of People’s Lawyers led a protest after the police refused to allow them to talk to their clients.
Lawyers Maria Sol Taule and Ephraim Cortez said they were told that inquest proceedings had been set for 8:30 a.m. but nothing has happened as of noon.
“No inquest proceedings yet … The MPD refused to allow us inside. The parents are crying since they have yet to see their children since September 21,” Taule said in Filipino.
An inquest is an informal and summary investigation conducted by a state prosecutor in criminal cases involving persons arrested and detained without an arrest warrant from the court. It serves to determine whether the apprehended person should remain in custody and be charged in court.
Taule said the continued detention of those arrested no longer has basis because it has been more than 36 hours since their arrest.
Under the rules, those arrested without warrant can only be held for 36 hours.
The MPD has yet to issue a statement on why the inquest is delayed.
Domagoso yesterday said the MPD had in its custody 127 adults and 89 minor. Of the minors, 67 are classified as children in conflict with the law (CICL) and 24 as children at risk (CAR).
Excluding the 24 CARs, Moreno said charges will be filed against the 192 rioters for violation of Batas Pambansa 880 (The Public Assembly Act of 1985), Article 146 of the Revised Penal Code (Illegal Assembly), Article 148 (Assault against a person in authority and their agent), and Article 151 (Resistance and Disobedience).
“Further cases, including malicious mischief, arson, physical injuries, and inciting to sedition, are still under evaluation,” he added. – With Ashzel Hachero
