Makabayan senatorial bets accused of attacking cops cleared
The Manila City prosecutor’s office has dismissed for insufficient evidence the case filed by authorities against senatorial candidates of the Makabayan bloc who were accused of hurting police officers deployed to last year’s Bonifacio Day rally on Mendiola Bridge.
Cleared of charges of violating Sec. 13 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 880 or the Public Assembly Act of 1985 were ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro, Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas, former Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza, Jocelyn Andamo of Filipino Nurses United, Ronnel Arambulo of Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas, Jerome Adonis of Kilusang Mayo Uno, Danilo Ramos of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, Mimi Doringo of Kadamay, Mody Floranda of Piston and Moro leader Amirah Lidasan. They are running for the Senate in the May 12 elections.
Other respondents in the case were former Bayan Muna Rep. Ferdinand Gaite, Vladimir Quetua of Alliance of Concerned Teachers and Cristy Donguines of Alliance of Health Workers.
In a resolution issued on Jan. 27 and released only recently, the Manila prosecutor’s office said the police officers, namely Police Capt. Joemir Juhan, Police Lt. Dean Mark Regala and Police Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Perales, failed to show any evidence of the alleged injuries they suffered while trying to control the protesters who marched from C. M. Recto to Mendiola.
Mere allegation
“Complainants alleged that the event was not peaceful as police officers were injured … However, no proof of the said injury was presented other than the mere allegation in [the] affidavit,” read the six-page resolution approved by Deputy City Prosecutor Ignacio Manotok Jr.
The prosecutor’s office also pointed out that the police officers themselves admitted that the Bonifacio Day rally “ended peacefully when the rallyists dispersed after the program.”
“Even if there are isolated instances of commotion which are expected in a mass rally, it does [not] mean that the whole event is no longer peaceful. In fact, based on the affidavits of several police officers … the event was peaceful and trouble-free,” it said.
It noted that there was a minor commotion during the event when the police blocked the marchers on their way to Mendiola.
But the mere presence of the senatorial candidates and other members of progressive groups in an otherwise peaceful assembly “does not ipso facto (by the very fact) make [them] liable for violation of Sec. 13,” the prosecutor’s office said.
