No minors remain in the custody of the Manila Police District (MPD) following the Sept. 21 anti-corruption rally in Mendiola, authorities said on Tuesday, Sept. 30.
MPD spokesperson Major Philipp Ines confirmed this in a Viber message with Inquirer.
‘We don’t have any more minors in custody since Sept. 24,’ said Ines.
‘What we have (detainees) are those of legal age who have not yet posted bail,’ he added.
Ines said he was still waiting for an update on the number of remaining detainees so far.
In a separate statement, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) reported that 91 minors were initially processed by the Women and Children Protection Center of the Philippine National Police and the Department of Social Welfare and Development before being transferred to the Manila Social Welfare Office.
Of these, 68 were later released to their parents, while others were either sent to their respective local government units or remained in a youth facility awaiting pickup.
While acknowledging the Manila government’s efforts to uphold children’s rights by focusing on rehabilitation rather than punishment, the CHR stressed the right to peaceful assembly.
‘CHR stands in solidarity with the Filipino people in condemning corruption, which deprives communities of essential services and violates fundamental rights,’ it said.
‘However, while protest is a legitimate exercise of democratic freedom, acts of violence and destruction of property cannot be condoned as they endanger public safety and harm communities,’ the commission said.
The Sept. 21 anti-corruption protest saw mass demonstrations of different groups across the country, with the largest rallies held in Metro Manila denouncing corruption surrounding billion pesos worth of flood control projects.
While demonstrations at the two major sites in Luneta and Edsa remained peaceful, violence broke out in Manila, particularly in Ayala Bridge, Recto, and Mendiola. Over 200 individuals, including minors, were detained.
In a statement released on Sept. 29, the MPD denied allegations of keeping detainees in appalling conditions.
‘Manila – PBGEN ARNOLD E ABAD, Acting District Director, Manila Police District, assures the public that the individuals, including minors and a person with disability (PWD) who were taken into custody were given proper care, disposition and intervention,’ according to the official statement.
MPD said it provided detainees a ‘spacious and air-conditioned room, nutritious food, decent clothing, other basic necessities, and 24-hour security to ensure their safety and welfare.’
It added that no torture, physical abuse or any sort of maltreatment was inflicted upon the arrested individuals in police custody. /cb