Scores hurt in violent clashes; 17 arrested

At least 30 policemen and a radio reporter were reportedly hurt after young protesters wearing black masks and balaclavas tried to provoke riot police officers of the Manila Police District (MPD) near Ayala Bridge in Manila by throwing rocks at them, setting a container van on fire, and breaching the police barricade near Malacañang on Sunday, Sept. 21.

- PATRICK GARCIA, ARGYLL CYRUS GEDUCOS, DIANN CALUCIN, ALLYSA NIEVERA, MARTIN SADONGDONG, AARON RECUENCO, RICHIELYN CANLAS, and HANNAH NICOL

Seventeen of the demonstrators, the youngest of whom was 11 years old, have been arrested by the police.

According to the authorities, the protesters, reportedly members of a fraternity, came from Luneta Park where they participated in the anti-corruption protest and tried to force their way through the metal barricade set up by the police, including a trailer frame, and several steel containers near Malacanang.

Upon seeing the barricade, the masked protesters started throwing rocks, glass bottles, metal fences, plant boxes, and other hard items at the phalanx of policemen armed with shields and riot gear.

The demonstrators resorted to kicking and directly hitting the policemen with wood planks and other debris.

Some of them also set on fire one of the container barricades during the melee.

A reporter from DZBB identified as Manny Vargas who was covering the demonstration was also hit on the face by one of the rocks thrown by the protesters following a foot chase between the police and some of the masked youths.

One of the masked protesters interviewed by the Manila Bulletin confirmed that he and some of his friends are all minors.

Curfew for minors

Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso has directed Manila Police District (MPD) Chief Brig. Gen. Arnold Abad to strictly enforce curfew hours for minors in the nation's capital.

He reiterated that under Executive Order No. 2, Series of 2025, curfew hours will be enforced from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. on minors 17 years old and below.

Mendiola melee

A few minutes after the Ayala Bridge clash, several protesters engaged riot police officers near the Mendiola Peace Arch in Mendiola, Manila, and tried to breach the police barricade going to Malacañang Palace.