Labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno condemned police brutality in the June 30 picket at the Department of Labor and Employment and the July 4 rally at the US Embassy where scores of activists were hurt and wounded as they were beaten up with truncheons.
"Two cases of police brutality in one week, both in major celebrations for the Aquino regime. The Aquino regime is only too proud to show that it is comparable to the Arroyo regime in terms of cruelty towards people who are voicing their criticisms of the government's policies," KMU chairperson Elmer "Bong" Labog said.
Among those who suffered the worst injuries are:
>> Aries Santiago, 22, of the KMU. He was hit with truncheons twice in the left arm, twice in the right arm, once at the head and once in the upper leg by three policemen. He attended the picket last June 30 condemning the granting of a P22 Cost of Living Allowance.
>> Eduardo Manipol, 52, of the KMU. Being a diabetic, he was moved to the sidewalk when policemen began hitting the demonstrators with truncheons. He was not spared, however, when the policemen went on a rampage and hit everyone in sight. He sustained a fracture and a wound in the left arm. He attended the picket yesterday, July 4, condemning the US for pushing the country to a war with China.
According to multisectoral alliance Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, more than 20 were injured in yesterday's rally near the US Embassy. The rallyists are planning to file a lawsuit against the Manila Police District which was responsible for the two cases.
"The first anniversary of Noynoy's presidency and the first Filipino-American Friendship Day under Noynoy were marked with violence and violations of the people's right to hold protests. As poverty and hunger worsens because of the Aquino regime's anti-worker and anti-people policies, it is now using violence to quell people's mass actions," said Labog.
"If the Aquino regime thinks that it is scaring people away by unleashing police brutality against protestors, then it is gravely mistaken. Police brutality against protestors only angers the Filipino workers and people even more. We vow to hold ever-bigger protests in the coming months – especially on Noynoy's State of the Nation Address on July 25," Labog concluded.
from: kilusangmayouno.org
