A MILITARY officer in Davao City expressed disappointment over reports that certain groups are filing a petition to relieve Police Senior Superintendent Ronald “Bato” M. Dela Rosa, Director of the Davao City Police Office, after Karlos Manlupig of the Philippine Daily Inquirer was accidentally hit with truncheons while taking pictures in the midst of the scuffles between PNP personnel and the rallyists.
According to reports, five policemen were injured during the melee when the protesters prevented Dela Rosa’s men from bringing food to their companions who were securing the DSWD compound.
Flower pots and other objects were hurled at police personnel, causing traumatic injuries to one who is now in ICU when his head was hit with a piece of wood.
Giving an eyewitness account of the incident, the military officer said: “Yung mga pulis natin were just doing their job.
Sinubaybayan ko ang mga pangyayari, maximum tolerance ang ginawa ng Davao police.
Hindi binugbog si Karlos, naipit lamang siya sa kaguluhan dahil lumapit siya sa mga protester na siya pang gumamit ng dahas at pumigil sa mga pulis na maghatid ng pagkain sa mga kabaro nila.
Sa kabila ng nangyari, kinausap ni Colonel Bato nang maayos ang mga nagra-rally.
Hindi sila kailanman nagpaputok (ng baril) o nag-spray ng tubig.
“Ang laki po ng pagbabago sa Davao mula nu’ng dumating si Colonel Dela Rosa rito, at kami ay sumasaludo sa kanya. We will support him all the way.”
According to DSWD Davao field officer Moriel Belviz, the rallyists left Davao City after the negotiations aboard buses rented by the Davao City government. I wonder who paid for the bus rental for the trip to the city.
In interviews, some passengers said they were led to believe that they would be attending an EDSA celebration and that they would be given a sack of rice for their participation.
