Malacañang on Friday reiterated that the Philippine National Police (PNP) does not give special treatment to anyone when carrying out its mandate.
The statement came in response to concerns from some student leaders questioning why the PNP is allegedly quick to arrest young protesters but slow to apprehend big-time corrupt actors.
‘Being young is not a license to commit a crime and then say, `Don’t arrest us because we are part of the youth.’ The law does not discriminate-whether you are a young person of legal age, a senior citizen, or an older adult-if you commit a crime and violate the law, you must be held accountable,’ Palace press officer Claire Castro said.
According to Castro, the police can arrest a person who is caught in the act of committing a crime.
‘So, since the youth are supposed to be the hope of the nation, they should be the first to follow and obey the law. What they should do is set an example for other young people,’ she also said.
On Sept. 21, tens of thousands of people staged protests in various parts of Metro Manila – coinciding with the anniversary of the declaration of martial law under former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. in Sept. 1972.
The demonstrations focused on condemning irregularities in flood-control projects and called for accountability from the individuals involved in the developing controversies.