Police, protesters trade barbs over violence at Labor Day rally ~ HUMAN RIGHTS PROMOTIONS

Friday, May 1, 2026

Police, protesters trade barbs over violence at Labor Day rally

Friday, May 01, 2026 Herbert Curia - Promoter No comments

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links https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2221850/police-protesters-clash-over-cops-hurt-at-labor-day-rally-effigy-burningq

Police, protesters trade barbs over violence at Labor Day rally

MANILA, Philippines — The police and protesters clashed over how at least seven police officers were injured and why authorities attempted to extinguish an effigy that had been burned at a Labor Day rally in Manila.

The protesters were marching towards the United States Embassy to call for an end to their war on Iran, but the police blocked them along Kalaw Avenue on Friday morning, sparking tension.

One of the injured police officers was a 26-year-old patrolman who had been punched in the head during the stand-off, resulting in a skull and wrist injury, according to Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño in a press briefing in Camp Crame.

“There was no provocation or whatever statements made by any members of the CDM team at the said place. He just punched the police officer,” Tuaño said.

In an interview later on Friday, Manila Police District (MPD) legal officer Cpt. Felino Nebato identified the perpetrator as a male member of the group Sandigan ng Manggagawa.

The perpetrator had previously been arrested during the September 21 riot in Mendiola last year but was released for further investigation, according to Nebato.

He further claimed that the same perpetrator had snatched another police officer’s cellphone while the latter was documenting the police response during the protest-action.

The police are currently tracking down the supposed perpetrator, who, if caught, may face charges for theft, physical injuries and direct assault, Nebato noted.

The PNP condemned the incident.

“All kinds of violence against any person is not acceptable,” Tuaño said.

Also at the interview, MPD Director, Brig. Gen. Arnold Santiago explained that, when protestors began burning an effigy as part of the rally, officers and firefighters attempted to extinguish the fire, sparking even more tension.

“Our firefighters were just about to put out the fire using water so that the embers from the effigy wouldn’t reach the electricity cables,” Santiago maintained.

“The protesters thought we were directing the fire hose at them. That’s when tensions rose and the police officer’s cellphone was stolen,” he added.

In response, in a statement later on Friday, Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), one of the groups leading the protests, denied that the rallying groups had hurt the police officers.

“This is a dirty tactic by the police to drown with disinformation the legitimate grievances of the people against those whom they protect,” KMU maintained.

“The protest was about to end when the police used a water cannon and lunged at us. Is that maximum tolerance? Who was carrying rods and riot shields?” it added.

“Don’t take the conversation away from the people’s issues. Our protests will continue for as long as President Bongbong Marcos fails to address our crise,” the group further said.

KMU, alongside other labor and sectoral groups, mounted the protest-action to call for an end to the US-Israel war on Iran and to hold Marcos accountable for supposedly failing to address demands for higher wages and lower costs of basic goods.

Tuaño said the PNP monitored at least 46 rallies across Metro Manila and 11 other regions with a total of around 10,785 participants during this year’s observance of Labor Day.

Despite the injured officers and supposed theft case, Tuaño maintained that Friday’s protests were generally peaceful. /mr