Violence erupts in Mendiola; masked youths attack cops

Masked youths clashed with riot police at Ayala Bridge and later at the Mendiola Peace Arch yesterday, leaving around 100 police and several others injured and at least 19 arrested, including minors as young as 11.

- EMMANUEL TUPAS

Those arrested belong to a group of about 400 people, which joined the “Baha sa Luneta” rally in Rizal Park.

At Ayala Bridge, they hurled rocks, bottles and metal fences at police, threw ricades leading to Malacañang.

The masked youths, mostly in black shirts, attempted to breach police bara Molotov cocktail and set fire to a trailer truck before being forced back.

Firefighters and police responded immediately, and the situation was declared contained.

By mid-afternoon, the crowd regrouped at Mendiola, where rioters again pelted officers with projectiles and firecrackers. Police responded with water cannons, tear gas and a long-range acoustic device to contain the disturbance.

Radio dzBB reporter Manny Vargas was among those injured by debris thrown during the melee.