APL to charge police officers for brutality on Women’s Day

The Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL) called for the dismissal of PNP Regional Director Vidal Querol, Quezon City District Director Nicasio Radovan and other police officers involved in the arrest of Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel and their Secretary-General Josua Mata during the dispersal of their rally at Welcome Rotonda to commemorate the International Women's Day (IWD).

In the wake of statements by PNP Director Querol that Rep. Baraquel was being protected from harm and not arrested, APL leaders were indignant, saying that such statements justify their brutality during the dispersal, an act prohibited even under Batas Pambansa 880 which was used to arrest Mata. "To say so is not only lying but to suggest that the women workers with Rep. Hontiveros may be dealt with violently, that they may be wounded and get bloodied, as had in fact happened!", said Mata.

APL reported that almost a dozen of the women members of APL suffered abrasions and hematoma. Among the victims was Evelyn Bedeco, a 45-year-old mother who had to be brought to the Delgado hospital in Kamuning for severe back pains. Mata himself suffered contusions and was only released yesterday after spending a night in Camp Karingal, having posted bail of P1,000 for charge of illegal assembly. "It was a tortuous process since after my arrest at 11:45 am, the state prosecutor assigned only came at 5 pm, way after bail may be posted," Mata stated.

"In the first place, the police has no right to disperse the activity and arrest its leaders since the APL and other groups were just exercising their fundamental right to peaceably assemble as enshrined in the Constitution and even in BP 880, " Tess Gurion, chair of APL-Women said. APL added that Sec. 6 (b) states that the mayor or any official acting on his behalf shall act on the application within two (2) working days from the date the application was filed, failing which, the permit shall be deemed granted. APL filed the application for permit on March 6, 2006, two days before the International Women's Day activity.

"The excesses of the police have to be checked once and for all, and they should be held liable," asserted Mata. Sec. 13 (d) of BP 880 further states that "obstructing, impeding, disrupting or otherwise denying the exercise of the right to peaceful assembly" and "the interfering with or intentionally disturbing the holding of a public assembly by the use of a motor vehicle, its horns and loud sound systems" [Sec 13, g (5)], are punishable with imprisonment. Further, Sec. 9 states that law enforcement agencies shall not interfere with the holding of a public assembly.

"Several rows of police with helmets and truncheons, and a truck blocked our way. We negotiated but after promising to check if it is possible for the group to proceed to Mendiola, the ground officer held a megaphone to warn us that 5 minutes are left for us or we will be dispersed. Gen. Radovan was seen in the area giving commands to the officers and now, the PNP Regional Director proves his direct responsibility to the violence given his explanations," said Gurion.

"Mike Defensor should apologize to all the women. The question is whether the women will accept his apology. It is a pathetic attempt of a crony and a president that will do anything to "legitimize" her cling to power. What happened clearly indicates that Gloria Arroyo is now in an extreme state of paranoia for she knows that her time is up and is already at the brink of being ousted from Malacañang. Martial Law is definitely here again and she is now using the coercive powers of the state to create a climate of fear and unrest," Mata said.

"The continued dispersal of peaceful demonstrations held in the exercise of the constitutional right to hold assemblies and petition the government for redress of grievances, is a basic sign that Gloria Arroyo will really not listen to the demands of the women and will continue to stifle legitimate political dissent that would only result to more violations of human rights. Unfortunately for her, Gloria has no time left to retract and amend. The women and the workers are disgusted and soon, her time would be finally over," Gurion added.

Criminal and administrative charges are being prepared by APL and its lawyers against Mata's arresting officer, ground officers San Diego and Villabia up to Gen. Radovan and Gen. Querol, invoking command responsibility.