- The PNP filed charges against 80 protesters for directly assaulting police officers
- P/CSupt. Wilben Mayor said that the PNP’s dispersal team is unarmed
- The police official said the allegations saying that cops fired shots are now subject for investigation
- One of the protesters who died during the incident was found positive with gun powder residue during a paraffin test
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has filed “direct assault” charges against 80 persons who were arrested during the protest in Kidapawan City on Friday, according to a report from GMA News Online.
In an article written by Joseph Tristan Roxas on April 5, 2016, it was disclosed that those who were charged were apprehended for inciting violence against the police officers deployed to disperse the protesters during the rally.
“Initially mayroong na-file na kaso ang Kidapawan City Police na direct assault against direct persons in authority. Almost 80 itong naaresto nila. Sa ngayon 72 ang naka-detain then eight ‘yung nasa hospital [Initially, the Kidapawan City Police has filed cases for direct assault against persons in authority. Currently, 72 persons are on detention and eight persons are in the hospital],” said Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor, spokesperson of the PNP.
Mayor has also downplayed criticisms that police operatives fired shots at the protesters, who were only staging a rally over agricultural concerns at the time of the incident.
According to him, the team that was assigned to disperse the protesters were unarmed as PNP regulations prohibit the members of the Civil Disturbance Management (CDM) from bearing deadly weapons.
“Ang CDM ay wala pong armas. Unarmed po sila. ‘Yung mga allegations na ‘yung mga police natin ay nagpaputok, then again subject na ito for investigation [The CDM is not armed. They are unarmed. The allegations saying that the policemen fired shots are now subject for investigation],” Mayor said.
Based on initial police reports, three protesters died during the incident while hundreds of persons from both parties were injured.
Among those who died, one farmer was found positive with gun powder residue during a paraffin test.
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