By Randy Espares Jr.

Far Eastern University (FEU) Communication student and former FEU Advocate Chief Photographer Zedrich Xylak Madrid detailed the mistreatment he received from police forces amid the nationwide protests against corruption last September 21. 

In a personal Facebook post, Madrid detailed what occurred in one of his coverages during the protests at Mendiola-Recto.

“The police tried to pull my shirt because I was trying to take a picture of police brutality being done to a protester. There were five to ten police officers around the protester with riot shields and arnis. Unfortunately, aside from the five to ten surrounding the man, I was also encircled,” the post read.

Madrid was working as an alternative photojournalist for Pinoy Weekly and the Southern Tagalog Exposure during the protest.

Despite telling the police that he was part of the media, the photojournalist was bashed with a riot shield and struck on the head several times, with his only protection being a helmet. 

Fellow journalists near Madrid urged the police to stop, such as Lisa Marie David, who was also pushed by a riot shield, and was able to capture Madrid's encounter with the police.

“I noticed more hostility towards journalists covering the protests. At one point, one police officer tried to stop me from taking pictures by pushing his riot shield towards me and my cameras,” David said on her Facebook post. 

In an exclusive interview with FEU Advocate, the former chief photographer shared what happened afterwards. 

“What happened after I proceeded to go on with covering the dispersal. A day after a photojournalist, Lisa, sent me the photos of what happened… the police didn't provide any assistance or any apologies,” he said. 

Madrid also reminded fellow journalists to stay vigilant in covering protests.

“Kailangan mag-ingat, maging alisto. Please know your rights, show your press badge. Have your colleagues look out for you,” he advised.

As of writing, Madrid has already filed an incident report to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines and is requesting an affidavit from the Commission on Human Rights. 

Aside from journalists, the Department of Health also reported 47 hurt individuals including two injured police officers and one deceased taken to Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center after the Mendiola-Recto protests. 

Despite several videos circulating online that show otherwise, Manila Police District (MPD) spokesperson Police Major Philipp Ines asserts that no Philippine National Police (PNP) member fired a gun or used tear gas on protesters. 

“Wala, hindi natin gagawin ‘yun, at kung sana mayroong nangyari, may report na tayo na may ganiyang incident,” Ines said. 

Meanwhile, the MPD documents 127 adults and 89 minors being taken into custody after the protests. Included in the minors are 67 classified as children in conflict with the law (CICL), and 24 belonging to children at risk. 

Manila City Mayor Francisko 'Isko' Moreno claimed that cases will be filed against the protesters with various charges, such as illegal assembly, assault, and resistance. 

Student-leaders against excessive force 
Moreover, Far Eastern University Central Student Organization (FEUCSO) and other Institute Student Councils denounced “police brutality” in a released joint statement yesterday, September 22.

We, the FEU Central Student Organization and Institute Councils, stand in firm unity to condemn the excessive use of force by the police against those exercising their right to protest,” the statement read. 

FEUCSO also signed a collective statement from the National University (NU) Central Student Government. Signatories also include student council presidents from NU, University of Santo Tomas, Adamson University, De La Salle University, among others.

“Hayaang magsalita ang bayan. Hayaang kumilos ang taumbayan. Hindi kailanman matitinag ang kabataang Pilipino sa harap ng panunupil at panlilinlang,” it read. 

It was also followed by another statement released today, calling out the PNP for detaining protesters for more than 26 hours without a proper case filed against them. 

“Without properly filed complaints, the PNP has no authority to detain these individuals any longer. The FEU CSO calls for the immediate release of all illegally detained individuals,” the statement read. 

Meanwhile, FEU’s premiere film organization, FEU Film Society, also put out a bulletin condemning the excessive force of police during the September 21 protests. 

“Sa ngalan ng pamemelikula, walang puwang sa paniniwala’t prinsipiyo ng organisasyon ang iba’t-ibang hubog ng pagsupil sa kalayaan ng Pilipinong mag-isip, maniwala, at iprotesta ang kanilang mga hinaing,” it stressed. 

On the early morning of September 23, several attorneys and family members of those detained by the MPD rallied outside of their headquarters at Ermita, Manila, demanding to free the apprehended minors. 

The MPD said that inquest proceedings for those of legal age shall proceed the same day. 

Moreno then allowed the release of 48 CICLs who will undergo a diversion program under the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 announced this afternoon, September 25. 

(Photo Courtesy of Zedrich Xylak Madrid)