Teddy Casiño, others may face raps over Taguig rally – police

MANILA, Philippines — The Southern Police District (SPD) on Friday said Bayan Muna Chairman Teddy Casiño and other individuals may face criminal charges after tensions flared at a protest in Taguig City last Thursday.

According to SPD director Brig. Gen. Rodel Pastor, the group, which held public demonstrations outside a hotel where President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is attending a forum, did not coordinate with them.

READ: 5 arrested at Taguig City rally decrying Pax Silica — rights group

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Five arrested individuals, who were identified as paralegals, were brought to Taguig City police custody, awaiting charges.

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Pastor said Casiño may be charged as well.

“We filed every possible charge because we are sticking to legal means. We don’t want a chaotic free-for-all; we are following due process. Let them answer for it in court,” Pastor told reporters.

They may face charges for alarm and scandal, resistance and disobedience to a person in authority, direct assault, tumults and other disturbances of public order, and violation of Batas Pambansa No. 880 or the Public Assembly Act, according to the SPD.

Marcos Jr. was attending the Luzon Economic Corridor Investors Forum at a hotel in Bonifacio Global City when protesters staged a lightning rally outside.

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Pastor said that some even tried to enter the vicinity.

The group was holding public demonstrations to oppose the United States-led Pax Silica project, raising concern over possible displacement of local communities and its environmental impact in the planned site in New Clark City, Tarlac.

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“That is always the case, whenever there are activities, even those not involving the president. When there are forums, there should be coordination. It is part of the job — maintaining order is automatically a police responsibility,” Pastor said.

The Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment group said that police personnel were aggressively shoving, dragging, and even beating protesters with riot shields and police batons when the commotion erupted. /mcm