CICC, PNP-ACG seek media footage of Mendiola Rally

By San Matildo

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) and the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) on Sunday, September 21, have appealed to media organizations to provide video footage from Sunday’s Mendiola rally, where violence erupted following the actions of unidentified individuals.

CICC Acting Executive Director Aboy Paraiso said the agencies will use the materials for facial recognition to help identify those responsible for disrupting what began as a peaceful assembly.

“The CICC and the PNP-ACG, under General Bernie (Bernard) Young, are requesting our media friends to share footage of the Mendiola rally that resulted in violence. We will subject these videos to facial recognition so we can identify those who caused trouble during what should have been a peaceful exercise of free expression,” Paraiso said.

He added that formal letters will be sent to news outlets to request copies of their coverage.

Earlier in that day, commotion broke out at the anti-corruption rally when unidentified rioters, apparently unaffiliated with the protests, hurled bottles and other objects at police deployed near the Mendiola Peace Arch in San Miguel, Manila.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, in a social media post, confirmed that several police officers were injured in the incident. He shared photos of the wounded personnel, who were brought to the Ospital ng Sampaloc for treatment.

“Sila po ay isinugod sa pinakamalapit nating district hospital upang sila ay magamot ng ating mga doktor,” Moreno said, while urging residents to maintain peace and order.

(They were rushed to the nearest district hospital so our doctors could treat them.)

“Let us maintain order and peace in our city. Let us all stay safe,” he added.