Multiple charges have been filed in the Office of the Ombudsman
against 10 policemen involved in the violent dispersal of protesters in
front of the US Embassy which left dozens injured on Oct. 19.
Named in a 13-page complaint filed on Wednesday were Senior Supt.
Marcelino Pedrozo, Manila Police District (MPD) deputy district director
for operations; PO3 Franklin Kho, who drove a police van through
the crowd of protesters; Supt. Albert Barot; Chief Insps. Dionelle
Brannon, Elmer Oseo and Roberto Marinda; Senior Insps. Roberto Mangune
and Edgardo Orongan; and Insp. Joebie Astucia.
They were charged with attempted murder, grave abuse of authority,
serious physical injuries, unlawful arrest, conduct unbecoming of a
public officer, gross misconduct and violations of the Rights of the
Accused and the Public Assembly Act.
National Capital Region Police Office director, Chief Supt. Oscar
David Albayalde, was charged with obstruction of justice for issuing
statements “justifying the acts” of the policemen ahead of an official
investigation.
Ephraim Cortez of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers accompanied
the complainants, who were led by Piya Macliing Malayao and Nicole
Soria, two of the three protesters hit by the van driven by Kho; and
jeepney driver Raymart Sumalbag who was dragged out of his vehicle and
beaten up by policemen.
“We can see from the footage [taken during the protest] the intent to kill,” Cortez said, referring particularly to Kho. “There is evident
premeditation and we believe this was part of the dispersal operation,”
he told reporters, adding that they hoped for the eventual dismissal of
the policemen.
The protest was one of the activities of the Lakbayan ng Pambansang
Minorya, a gathering of over 3,000 Lumad, Moro and indigenous peoples in
Manila to press their call for the right to self-determination. The
rally was also in support of President Duterte’s commitment to forging
an independent foreign policy.
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