'Abuso na': PNP enforces stricter measures as protesters turn more aggressive at Senate
Apparently pissed off by the rowdy behavior of protesters at the Senate complex, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has started reinforcing its personnel to deny rallyists the opportunity to harass senators and other people in the area.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr. was particularly angered by the report that a group of protesters attacked the vehicle of former Senate president Vicente ‘Tito” Sotto while on its way out of the Senate after a session on Wednesday.
Nartatez expressed deep concern over the security breach as tension erupted due to reported efforts to arrest Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa amid the issuance of a warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over his alleged role in the previous administration’s bloody campaign against illegal drugs.
“The Philippine National Police maintains a zero-tolerance policy for any form of violence or harassment, especially against our public servants,” said Nartatez.
“While we respect the right to peaceful assembly, the transition from a protest to an assault on a vehicle is a criminal act. We assure the Senator and the public that this incident will not be taken lightly,” he added.
A number of protesters supporting Dela Rosa have been holding activities near the Senate’s main access since Monday when news of an arrest warrant from the ICC was confirmed.
On Wednesday, the protesters were seen conducting their own inspection of the vehicles going out of the Senate and later attacked the vehicle of Sotto.
Some of the protesters were also seen trying to remove the barricade and climbing the fence.
Nartatez said they are currently conducting a thorough review of security footage and ground reports to identify where lapses may have occurred and deter mine the identity of individuals who turned an orderly gathering into a rowdy and unruly mob.
In response to the incident, he said the PNP is now coordinating with Senate security to synchronize crowd-control measures.
Nartatez also instructed the review of all available CCTV and police body camera recordings to determine if specific protesters committed criminal acts such as physical intimidation or property damage.
"I directed our troops on the ground to move from maximum tolerance to swift enforcement the moment protesters obstruct vehicles," Nartatez said.