Some young participants in Sunday’s violent riot during anti-corruption protests in Manila were identified as “hiphop gangsters” by the Manila Police District on Monday.
The largely peaceful demonstrations against bogus flood-control projects turned chaotic when riot police used water cannons against a masked group that threw rocks and smashed glass at a police outpost. Authorities arrested 113 people in separate incidents, where at least 93 officers were injured and a trailer used as a barricade was set on fire.
“Ongoing pa ‘yung ating pag-iimbestiga, initially nalaman natin ito ‘yung mga hiphop, at naimpluwensyahan sila ng isang rapper na hindi na muna natin babanggitin pero nakita naman natin sa social media kung sino ito,” MPD Public Information Office chief Maj. Philipp Ines said.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Brig. Gen. Anthony Aberin noted that interviews with those in custody showed many were inspired by foreign events and a popular rapper. “Parang gusto nilang gayahin ‘yung nangyari sa ibang bansa at may iniidolo silang isang rapper na parang nag-udyok sa kanila na pumunta doon tapos magsuot ng black na uniporme, magtakip ng mukha kasi nga pilosopya nila na ‘no face, no case,'” he said. “Iniimbestigahan kung sino ‘yung tinutukoy nila na rapper.”
Police are probing possible financing by a larger group or individual, as well as drug use among those involved. “Lahat ng na-apprehend will be charged,” Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso said. “I will make sure, that they will pay the price. Kung sumali ka, naki-sapak ka, kasama ka sa danyos. Criminal and civil. Pagsisisihan nila ‘yan,” ayon kay Domagoso.
Public anger over the so-called ghost infrastructure projects has grown since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. highlighted them in his State of the Nation Address following deadly July floods. Marcos stated he did not blame people for protesting “one bit.”
The day began peacefully with a morning rally at a park drawing nearly 50,000 people, per city estimates, followed by thousands more at an afternoon gathering at EDSA, site of the 1986 uprising that ousted Marcos’s father.Copy messageExport