THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Monday denied reports of a protester’s death from stabbing during a riot in Mendiola, Manila, on Sunday evening, adding that adults found to be involved in the violent protest could face charges of up to sedition.
“I would like to debunk the rumors going around that someone died, that there was a death. There were zero casualties,” DILG Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” C. Remulla, Jr., told reporters during the joint press briefing of various government agencies at the Presidential Communications Office.
Based on the information we gathered on-site yesterday, during the altercation, we did not see anything like that. If anyone was stabbed, it did not come from the PNP (Philippine National Police), because the PNP does not carry knives,” Mr. Remulla said in Filipino in response to the Department of Health (DoH) report on a casualty related to the Mendiola riot.
In a statement on Monday, the DoH said that an unidentified man was brought to Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center and was declared dead on arrival due to stab wounds.
PNP acting chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. said that the agency has not received any report of the protester’s death but assured that the PNP will conduct an investigation.
Mr. Remulla said the protests that involved violence, such as those at Ayala Bridge and two events in Mendiola, led to the arrest of more than 216 individuals, including 89 minors and 127 adults, Mr. Remulla said.
Among the minors, 69 were classified as children in conflict with the law (ages 15 to 17), while 24 were considered children at risk (14 years old and below).
The apprehended minors are with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and are undergoing questioning to determine if they will reach the legal age of 18 in the coming months, Mr. Remulla said.
Meanwhile, the apprehended adults, who may be proven involved in the street violence, could face charges ranging from arson and serious physical injuries to sedition, following threats to set fire to Malacañang, according to the acting PNP chief. — Edg Adrian A. Eva
