By Edgar Cadagat

Leaders of the human rights group KARAPATAN-Negros and the partylist political party, Ang Kabataan, condemned what they said was the ferocity with which the head of a group of policeman, attacked and beat up several of 11 youths protesting during the visit of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Wednesday noon. Karapatan-Negros Secretary General Fred Caña, singled out NOPPO investigation chief Insp. Robert Dejucos, who tore into the groups of protesters, beating up with their fist, kicks and truncheons, Heinreich Pacheco, one of the student protesters. "The ferocity of the attack betrayed the personal anger of Dejucos against the youth protesters, said Caña.

Caña had accused Dejucos of being hard-hearted presumably because on several occasions, during the President’s visit to Bacolod, they had not been able to monitor and to stop youth activists from holding lightning protest actions. Maybe, the police officer had been rapped on the knuckles by superior officers because of these. So he had taken it out against the youth activists instead of viewing with sympathy and understanding the cause which pushed them to hold protest actions such as this.

For his part, Pacheco related that he was trying to protect his fellow youth activists from harm from the group of about 20 policemen led by Dejucos which included RMG troopers when they set upon him. Tearing his clothes he said, the troopers allegedly beat him up with punches, kicks and truncheons even when he was down on the ground near the Teleperformance Office.

Pacheco said he was helpless as there were so many policemen against him.

The police started to run after the activists when they unfurled streamers and hackled the President when she passed by a church nearby where they were positioned.

About a year and a half ago, they were hugely successful when they carried out protest actions in the plaza where President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo started to talk.

This was during the celebration of Masskara Festival then.*