A protest rally on Wednesday, October 19 near the US Embassy had turned violent.
The militant groups supposedly threw red paint at the cops and caused their uniforms to be destroyed. Protesters also vandalized police property, the police mobile.
Authorities believe this is enough to justify their actions.
According to relieved Senior Supt. Marcelino Pedrozo of the Manila Police District, the militant group intended to destroy and burn the police mobile being driven by PO3 Franklin Kho.
Kho is in hot water after being seen on the video that the police mobile plows through protesters during the violent dispersal of anti-US rallyists.
"Ang nangyari po diyan, sir, actually hindi naman po talaga siya yung driver. Ang nakita po nila, nung ongoing po ang negotiation namin, sinisira po nila yung mobile cars namin, pinipinturahan at may narinig pa raw po siya na susunugin po yung mobile cars, tinutumba po nila yung mobile cars," said Pedrozo on Thursday.
However, Pedrozo said the driver became frantic when the rallyists began to attack him.
"Habang nagda-drive po siya, pinagpapapalo po siya ng mga raliyista, binabasag po yung salamin kaya nakayuko po siya, hindi na raw po niya makita kung ano po yung nangyayari," Pedrozo said.
"Parang ang nangyari po, nawala po siya, nataranta po siya, hindi na po niya alam kung ano ang gagawin niya. Yun po ang statement niya," he added.
Pedrozo said Kho's only intention was to move the vehicle away from the angry protesters. "Ang gusto lang daw po niya yung extricate, tanggalin po yung mobile cars dun sa harap ng embassy. Yun lang po ang naging paliwanag po ng ating driver," he said.
Aside from Pedrozo and Kho, seven other police officers were ordered relieved following the incident.
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