While staging a lightning rally at the foot of the Chino Roces Bridge, also known as the Mendiola Bridge last Sept 26, doctors and other health workers led by Health Action for Human Rights (HAHR) were violently dispersed by police, who also arrested one of the group’s leaders.
BY PHILIP PARAAN
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Contributed to Bulatlat
Vol. VII, No. 34, September 30-October 6, 2007
While staging a lightning rally at the foot of the Chino Roces Bridge, also known as the Mendiola Bridge last Sept 26, doctors and other health workers led by Health Action for Human Rights (HAHR) were violently dispersed by police, who also arrested one of the group’s leaders.
The doctors, nurses, and other health workers from various public hospitals, together with health students, were protesting the Human Security Act or Anti-Terror Law, calling it “less security and more terror” and “nothing but an instrument of terror.”
Their program was cut short when the anti-riot police dispersed them. Even when they were clearly dispersing, the police tried to grab Dr. Reggie Pamugas, Secretary-General of Health Action for Human Rights (HAHR), who was trying to negotiate with them to stop pushing the ralliers, because the police kept on violently pushing. A 10-minute scuffle ensued in which four health workers and Dr. Pamugas were hurt.
As Pamugas recounts the violent encounter with the police, “While other doctors were trying to shield me along the sidewalks of CM Recto, they (the police) grabbed me by the neck. I was choking because of the night stick that was blocking my airways. We were begging them to release us since we were already dispersing.”
Col. Teodorico Perez, commander of the Mendiola police outpost, ordered the arrest of Pamugas.
The protesters noted that except for a handful of uniformed men, Perez’s men were all in civilian clothes but all were carrying their service firearms. This is prohibited by law. Some of the men were identified as SPO1 Lim, SPO1 Martires, and SPO1 Ali. Another policeman, clad only in an orange t-shirt and denim shorts, was particularly brutal, as he shoved several female doctors.
Pamugas was forcibly taken to the Manila Police District despite the objections of his colleagues. The police later reasoned out that they were only inviting the doctor for questioning and that they told Pamugas that the group was staging an illegal assembly. When Pamugas’ party asked why the cops had to use excessive force, the police officers merely said “niyakap lang naming siya, e” (we just embraced him).
In a statement, Dr. Darby Santiago, HAHR’s deputy secretary-general said, “What just happened calls for deep concern. The state just showed us that there is no more room for freedom of expression, especially for legitimate dissent criticizing the government. Is this going to be the norm under the HAS?”
Meanwhile the Health Allliance for Democracy (HEAD) also condemned the violent incident. HEAD secretary-general Dr. Gene Nisperos said the group condemns the “arrogance and brazen display of violence by Manila policemen.” He also said that the use of force was “unnecessary.”
HEAD also challenged incumbent Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim to discipline Perez and his men. Contributed to Bulatlat
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