PROTESTERS march against corruption in Sunday's demonstration dubbed as the 'Trillion Peso March'. (Photo from YouTube)
By Tracy Cabrera
LUNETA PARK, Manila — Masked youth infiltrated the ‘Trillion Peso March’ in Luneta Park and at the bridges of Ayala, Mendiola and Chino Roces, causing violence to erupt as they clashed with the police, leaving about 100 anti-riot cops injured and 72 individuals arrested. According to Manila Police District chief Brigadier General Arnold Abad, injured policemen suffered minor wounds and injuries from the attacks of infiltrators who posed as rallyists and committed several acts of violence like throwing stones and bottles at responding cops who tried to pacify them.
Police said that the protesters arrested in Mendiola threw Molotov bombs, disrupting nearby activities and prompted immediate coordination with the Bureau of Fire Protection to secure the area.
They also attacked several establishments along Recto Avenue and damaged government and private property while others were stolen, indicating that the perpetrators were not really participants of the protest actions.
The chaos that erupted was condemned by the rally organizers that include coalition members of Alyansa ng Bantay sa Kapayapaan at Demokrasya (ABKD), People’s Alliance for Democracy and Reforms (PADER), Liga Independencia Pilipinas (LIPI) and Filipinos Do Not Yield (FDNY) Movement.
The coalition’s chairman Dr. Jose Antonio Goitia revealed that what had happened was what he had feared and warned against: “a twisted agenda of paid anarchists, not the voice of the people.”
Goitia enthused that what was meant to be a peaceful rally was hijacked by masked agitators who threw rocks, bottles and even incendiary devices at the police. For him, these weren’t acts of protest but deliberate crimes. “These are not reformers but hired agitators. Their real purpose is not justice but to bring down a sitting President. But yesterday, their plans went up in smoke,” he disclosed thankfully.
The civic leader strongly condemned the attacks as acts that are no longer protected expressions of dissent but outright violations of law. Under the Revised Penal Code, he said, what they did already falls under sedition—a crime against public order and the Republic itself.
“Those responsible must be held criminally liable,” he stressed while praising the Philippine National Police (PNP) and intelligence units for stopping what he described as an attempted revolt before it could spiral into something far worse.
“News coverage laid bare the difference between legitimate dissent and orchestrated disorder. Even some political figures who had been misled into joining the march were left embarrassed after ‘being duped into associating with lawless elements’,” he added.
Goitia’s own volunteer groups were also attacked and several of his coalition’s volunteers and marshals were physically harmed and had materials vandalized by elements believed to belong to opposing political camps.
He vowed that those injured would not be ignored as they are working closely with law enforcement and our intelligence partners to identify those who attacked our people. In ending, he reminded the public that the fight against corruption will continues but it must always be through lawful and democratic means.
He also issued a firm declaration of support for President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. and the administration’s campaign against corruption.
“We stand solidly behind President Marcos in his crusade for good governance. The people’s call is for justice, transparency and reform—and this government is answering that call. So. what we demand is accountability but we will never allow paid anarchists to hijack the people’s cause. Justice will prevail and anarchy will never rule this nation,” Goitia concluded.
