Courtesy: Manila PIO
MANILA City Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso vowed late Sunday, September 21 to file criminal and civil charges and seek reparations from those arrested for destroying public and private property during what authorities said should have been orderly protests.
The Mayor made this vow during an ambush interview as he inspected damages along Recto Avenue at about 9 p.m.
“Nalulungkot tayo. Masyadong malaki ang damage na ginawa,” Domagoso told reporters as he surveyed burned placards, broken glass and scorched pavement along the commercial strip.
“I don’t think mga rallyista iyon. They were in their respective places in the morning and in the afternoon,” he said. “With due respect sa mga rallyista, okay naman sila sa Luneta, okay naman sila sa Liwasan, okay naman sila sa EDSA, bakit parang adik tong mga nandidito?”
Domagoso said authorities will pursue both criminal and civil remedies against those responsible.
“Nagdesisyon sila ng ganyan, then we will throw the books at them, for all those damages, government properties, lahat ng na-apprehend will be charged, and I will make sure, I will make sure that they will pay the price,” the Mayor said.
“Sumali ka, nakisapakat ka, nahuli ka, sama ka sa danyos. Criminal and civil, we will charge them, the City Government of Manila will charge them, whatever the Philippine National Police will charge them,” he stressed.
The Mayor also thanked law enforcement for restraint even amid violence.
“Ipinagpapasalamat ko sa Philippine National Police, as you can see, nakita ninyo na ang kapulisan practiced high tolerance, literally, as much as they can. I praise the Philippine National Police for doing so and respecting the likes of those rallyists who expressed themselves,” he said.
“Ang Maynila ay may humigit-kumulang isang libong CCTV. We’ll go after them. Nakakalungkot. It’s a good thing you asked that. We’ll do our best to clean up the mess,” he said
He also assured the public that medical teams from the city government treated demonstrators and police injured during the clashes.
Domagoso also reiterated his call for peaceful, responsible expression and promised a swift cleanup of the streets of Manila.
“Sa atin, sa mga kababayan natin sa Lungsod ng Maynila, in our own little way, we’ll do our best tonight to clean everything here in Recto. Tomorrow, you can utilize the avenue,” he said.
“Alam ko, nakikita niyo sa mga comment ninyo na pananagutin itong mga taong ito. We’ll make sure. We’ll make sure. We’ll make them pay. Pumanatag kayo, mga batang Maynila.”
In his report to Mayor, Manila Police District (MPD) chief Brigadier General Arnold Abad said masked demonstrators at Luneta Park, Ayala Bridge and Chino Roces Bridge (Mendiola) became violent, stomping, pushing and hurling stones, barricades, glass bottles and foul-smelling liquid substances mixed with paint at police officers.
Abad said unruly protesters also set fire under a ten-wheeler trailer truck and a parked motorcycle near Ayala and Romualdez streets, and later threw debris and Molotov cocktails in Mendiola.
Of the 72 people arrested, Abad reported, 51 were apprehended at Ayala Bridge and 21 in Mendiola.
The MPD breakdown showed 38 adults at Ayala had already undergone physical examination; two minors were turned over to the Reception and Action Center, Manila Social Welfare and Development (RAC-MDSWD); and 11 minors were undergoing determination of discernment.
The 21 arrested in Mendiola included 14 adults and seven minors.
Abad said all 70 suspects are under custody of the District Investigation and Detective Management Division (DIDMD) and Women and Children Protection Section (WCPS) of the MPD for filing of appropriate charges.
