Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Jessie Cruzat

ABS-CBN News

MANILA - More than 200 individuals believed to be involved in a riot that erupted in Manila during anti-corruption protests on Sunday are now in police custody, according to the Manila Police District (MPD). Of the 212 arrested, 89 are minors, with 24 of them aged 12 and below.The Manila city government and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) have confirmed they are investigating certain groups or individuals suspected to be behind the chaos.Despite heavy rain, various organizations held a protest rally Monday afternoon in front of the MPD headquarters, calling for the release of those arrested during the violent protest.Families of some detainees waited outside the MPD gates.“Sabi nila nahuli daw sa rally. E ang alam ko po pumunta lang sa Divisoria para bumili ng damit. Kagabi pa po kami nandito, hindi pa po namin nakikita kung nasaan na,” said Romeo Paneda, father of one of the rescued minors.“Nagpaalam po siya samin na lalabas siya pero hindi niya sinabi kung saan siya pupunta. Hindi ko po papayagan. Di ko po ia-allow na ganon, 13 lang ‘yong anak ko, hindi ko siya pasasamahin sa ganon,” added Clarizza Babaran, the mother of another minor involved.According to MPD spokesperson Police Major Philipp Ines, the minors will be transferred to the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development while several criminal charges will be filed against the arrested individuals.“May mga kaso po tayo ipag-haharap dito katulad po ng arson, ng direct assault, physical injuries, malicious mischief at lahat po ng mga nilabag nila, isasampa po natin laban dito sa mga taong ito,” Ines said.“Unang-una po, palaging namin gustong sabihin sa inyo at pinanawagan na po namin, huwag niyo po kami itratong kaaway niyo. Kakampi niyo po kami. Kalaban po natin ang korupsyon. Nandito lamang po kami para bantayan po ang kaayusan,” he added.Authorities are still identifying those who orchestrated the attacks, but Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso earlier confirmed that they received information of possible individuals who instigated it. “Mga dayo eh. Taguig, nakita ko yung mga address eh. Taguig, Pasay, Paranaque, Caloocan, Quezon City. May nag-organize eh. Inaalam namin ngayon yung ano. May mga balita kami, mga dating politiko, Filipino-Chinese. May isa naman, lawyer. Ayan yung mga binabantayan namin ngayon,” said Domagoso.DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla also expressed concerns over possible deliberate incitement to violence.“Our biggest fear did not happen: That someone will incite violence in the People Power Rally. Our biggest fear was there would be instigation there,” he said.Remulla revealed that the DILG is now coordinating with the Department of Justice (DOJ) on the possibility of designating certain individuals or groups as terrorists, which he considered “anarchists”.“Alam na namin kung anong grupo pero hindi pa namin pwede sabihin kasi yung actual participants kinoconnect pa namin sa kanila. We will confirm after all the interviews are done,” Remulla added.Police, however, denied allegations of gunfire during the dispersal.“Wala po tayong gano&#x27;ng impormasyon at alam naman po natin yung tinatawag nating standard operating procedure pagdating po sa mga ganito. Wala po tayong reported na ganyan,” Ines said.Meanwhile, 95 police officers were injured, including 17 who were admitted in different hospitals. MPD officers recounted violent encounters during the protest, particularly at Ayala Bridge, where tires and a motorcycle were set ablaze.“‘Yong isa nga po naming nakita, may hawak pang palakol na nasa bag niya. May nakita kaming bote na may lamang gas po. No’ng naka-shield po kami, naramdaman ko na parang may namanhid po sa kamay ko, pag tingin ko umaagos na yong dugo,” said Patrolman Louie Versoza of MPD’s Civil Disturbance Management.In a separate incident in Mendiola, Patrolman Emerson Macaslig suffered head injuries after being mobbed by protesters as seen in a viral video. “Hinugot po kami nung nabuwag na po ‘yung barrier po namin. At doon na po nagsimula na pinagpapalo na din po kami. Tinulungan ko ‘yung senior ko kasi matanda na po.. Pero sa kasamaang palad po, ako po ‘yung napuruhan,” said Macaslig in an interview.The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) condemned the violence that unfolded during the protest.“Para sa amin, hindi po kailangang sirain yung mga traffic lights, hindi po kailangang sunugin ‘yong mga motorsiklo, hindi po kailangang sunugin yung truck, and lalong-lalo na hindi po dapat pinagnakawan ‘yong isang hotel along Recto,” said CHR Commissioner Beda Epres in a phone interview.The CHR also vowed to assist victims and ensure due process for all, especially the minors. &quot;We will make it a point na magkaroon po ng proper investigation, magkaroon po ng due process doon sa investigation na isasagawa doon po sa mga nahuling protesters, especially the minors. If ever po kailangan nila ng legal assistance, magsabi lang po sila,” Epres added.Meanwhile, both the DILG and DOJ assured the public that the rights of all arrested minors will be respected as investigations continue.<div> </div><div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SRC-jV8GlyU?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>

“Mga dayo eh. Taguig, nakita ko yung mga address eh. Taguig, Pasay, Paranaque, Caloocan, Quezon City. May nag-organize eh. Inaalam namin ngayon yung ano. May mga balita kami, mga dating politiko, Filipino-Chinese. May isa naman, lawyer. Ayan yung mga binabantayan namin ngayon,” Domagoso said.

“Mga dayo eh. Taguig, nakita ko yung mga address eh. Taguig, Pasay, Paranaque, Caloocan, Quezon City. May nag-organize eh. Inaalam namin ngayon yung ano. May mga balita kami, mga dating politiko, Filipino-Chinese. May isa naman, lawyer. Ayan yung mga binabantayan namin ngayon,” Domagoso said.

More than 200 arrested in Manila protest riot; Isko tags alleged instigators

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More than 200 arrested in Manila protest riot; Isko tags alleged instigators

Jessie Cruzat,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 22, 2025 08:50 PM PHT

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