Protesters clash with police near Batasan

source: gmanews.tv

Protesters opposed to planned budget cuts on public hospitals and state colleges and universities (SCUs) clashed with police near the Batasang Pambansa compound in Quezon City on Thursday afternoon.

The two groups clashed past 2 p.m. after police tried to disperse about 100 protesters conducting a program in front of the south wing gate of the House of Representatives using a water cannon.

Vencer Crisostomo of Anakbayan, one of the protesters, said about 20 from their group were injured after police “attacked" them.

"Hindi naman kami nagpupumilit pumasok… Sinugod kami ng pulis. Binomba kami at pinagpapalo… Mapayapa naman ang programa namin," Crisostomo said after the incident.

The protesters, which included members of the Association of Concerned Teachers and Migrante, were protesting the government’s proposal to slash the budgets of 12 public hosptials in Manila and funds allocated to SUCs, including the University of the Philippines (UP) system, next year.

Superintendent Ronnie Montejo of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Station 6 said he has asked investigators to find out what really happened during the encounter.

The protesters were allowed to continue their program after the incident. Four mini-firetrucks from nearby Quezon City areas are still deployed at the area as of posting time. — Andreo Calonzo/RSJ, GMA News
source: gmanews.tv