Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima praised members of the Manila Police District (MPD) for displaying great patience with the rallyists Sunday, Sept. 21, but at the same time advised the officers not to respond to violence with another form of violence.

"I commiserate with the Manila policemen who became victims of their (rallyists) violence for simply doing their job," De Lima said in a statement Monday, Sept. 22.

"I am impressed by their patience and display of maximum tolerance. You did not deserve to be at the receiving end of the violence," she said regarding the Manila cops who were deployed during the day of protests, which was marred by a riot in Mendiola.

"Hindi naman kayo ang mga nagnakaw sa mga raliyista at kanilang mga pamilya. Ang mga nagnakaw nandoon sa kanilang mga mansyon, pinapanood na magsakitan ang kanilang mga ninakawan, binabato at hinahataw ang isa’t isa dahil galit na ang taumbayan," De Lima said of the Manila police.

(You are not the ones who stole from the protesters and their families. The thieves are in their mansions, watching those they robbed hurt each other, throwing things and striking one another because the people are angry.)

"Ngunit sa galit, hindi puwedeng kahit kanino na lang pwede ibaling ang poot. Lalong lalo na, hindi sa pulis. Hindi sila ang mga magnanakaw. Sa katotohanan, pare-pareho kayong biktima ng mga magnanakaw. Bakit kayo-kayo ang nagsasakitan?" the former senator said.

(But in anger, you cannot just direct your rage at anyone. Especially not at the police. They are not the thieves. In truth, you are all victims of the thieves. Why are you hurting each other?)

Despite this, De Lima felt compelled to remind police about the importance of due process.

"I would like to appeal to the Manila Police District not to compound the violence that transpired yesterday with another kind of violence, the violence of the State. Huwag na sana ninyong ipagkait sa mga raliyistang inaresto ang kanilang karapatan sa abogado at iba pang karapatan ng mga naaresto," she said.

(Do not deny the arrested protesters their right to a lawyer and the other rights of those who are detained.)

"Idaan niyo sila sa proseso ng batas. Ikulong ang dapat makulong. Hayaang magpiyansa ang hindi naman kakasuhan ng non-bailable na krimen. Irespeto ang kanilang mga karapatang pantao, kahit kahapon hindi kayo nirespeto bilang mga alagad ng batas," added the lawyer-solon.

(Let them go through the legal process. Jail those who must be jailed. Allow bail for those not charged with non-bailable crimes. Respect their human rights, even if yesterday they did not respect you as officers of the law.)

De Lima added: 'Sa huli, matuto tayo sa mga pangyayari. Ayaw nating maging Nepal (In the end, we must learn from the events. We don’t want to be like Nepal)."

"Panagutin natin ang mga magnanakaw sa tamang paraan at sa mapayapang pakikitungo sa isa't isa (Let us hold the thieves accountable the right way while peaceful dealing with each other)," the ML solon said.