DAYS AFTER THE biggest protest action since the historic EDSA People Power Revolution in 1986, the government is going deep into one of the groups which took part in the violent demonstration held near the Malacañang Palace in Manila.
Citing government data, close to 244 individuals — including 60 minors, were arrested by the Manila Police District’s (MPD).
Under the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, children above 15 years old but below 18 are exempted from criminal liability, unless they acted with discernment.
PAID MOBSTERS
In what appears more like a sweeping statement, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla claimed that those arrested are no more than paid mobsters.
“Mukhang lumalabas organized group. Ang bayad nila sa mga bata ay 3,000 [pesos] each. May mga videos pa kami na pinapakita nila mga pera nila at niyayabang sa social media,” Remulla was quoted as saying in an interview.
The September 21 protests, embarking on calls to end systemic corruption in the government, were held in several parts of the country with the National Capital Region as focal points — Luneta Park in Manila and the People Power Monument along EDSA in Quezon City.
However, a small crowd converged near Malacañang Palace, where protesters burned the tires of a parked truck and later clashed with policemen.
ANONYMOUS PH
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on its part claimed that a group which calls itself Anonymous PH instigated the violent protest rally near Malacañang.
According to DICT Secretary Henry Aguda, Anonymous PH is a group of “hacktivists” believed to be behind 1.4 million attempted breach attempts during the protests.
Of this number, Anonymous PH was only able to deface 19 websites — mostly belonging to local government units.
Aside from calls across the social media, Aguda that the DICT had discovered and recorded an online chatter that included instructions on how to make Molotov cocktails and coordination links shared through Facebook Live.
“Nakita namin na nag-organize sila sa web, tapos na-translate into violence. Kaya nga, yung word na terrorism is aptly associated with them.”
BEYOND 36 HOURS
In the Philippines, arbitrary detention refers to the unlawful confinement of a person for more than 36 hours without proper judicial authority.
Under the Revised Penal Code, arrest made without a warrant issued by a court of law qualifies under the category of arbitrary arrest, if the detained person is not brought before the court within 36 hours.
While charges have already been filed, it wasn’t certain though whether or not MPD was able to commence inquest proceedings within the prescribed period.
Those custody were slapped with violation of the Public Assembly Act of 1985 (Batas Pambansa 880), illegal assembly (Article 146 of the Revised Penal Code or RPC), assault against a person in authority and their agent (Article 148 of the RPC), and resistance and disobedience (Article 151 of the RPC).