Clash at Mendiola Protest Results in Multiple Arrests and Injuries

A protest denouncing government corruption at Mendiola on Sunday intensified into violent clashes, resulting in the detention of 17 individuals and injuries to numerous police officers, alongside an assault on a frontline journalist. According to the Philippine National Police (PNP), approximately 400 protesters had assembled when a segment turned aggressive, throwing stones and Molotov cocktails at riot police and igniting fires.

The PNP confirmed that several of those arrested are minors. Police reported that 39 officers were injured during the confrontation, with two requiring hospitalization. "Seventeen individuals believed to be responsible are now in the custody of the Manila Police District," the PNP stated, adding that appropriate charges are being prepared against those involved.

The violence was triggered when masked protesters clad in black hurled rocks, bottles, and paint at police personnel securing the Malacañang Palace vicinity. Video footage captured some assailants kicking police riot shields on Ayala Bridge while others set fire to tires on a parked trailer truck used as a barricade.

A radio reporter livestreaming the event on Facebook sustained a facial injury after being struck by a rock. In response, the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) condemned the assault, emphasizing the critical need to ensure journalist safety. PTFoMS Executive Director Jose Torres Jr. remarked, "This incident highlights the urgent need to protect journalists, whose work is essential in ensuring the public's right to accurate and timely information."

Investigators are currently probing the protesters' affiliations, noting that some displayed a flag featuring the "Straw Hat Pirates" Jolly Roger from the Japanese manga "One Piece." The PNP reiterated its commitment to maintaining safety for both the public and demonstrators. "We will continue to exercise maximum tolerance, but we will also act against anyone who causes harm or damages property," the police added.