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4 Arrested, 16 Cops Injured at Protest Outside PH AI Infrastructure Forum
Four individuals were arrested and 16 police officers were injured during a protest outside an investment forum in Taguig City, Philippines. Protesters opposed the "Pax Silica" initiative aimed at strengthening AI infrastructure supply chains. Authorities cited illegal assembly, while activists decried harassment of human rights defenders.
MANILA, Philippines — Four individuals were arrested during a rally outside a forum attended by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig City on Thursday, according to the Southern Police District (SPD). “Pilit sila pumapasok. Pinagbabawal naman,” SPD Deputy Director for Operations Col. Robert Baesa said in an interview with reporters. (They were forcibly trying to enter. It’s not allowed.) “Kakasuhan yun. Illegal assembly. Bawal dito. Wala namang permit dito sa BGC mag-rally,” he added. (They’ll be charged with illegal assembly. It’s not allowed here. They don’t have a permit here in BGC to hold a rally.) READ: Pax Silica and the Luzon Economic Corridor: The capability test Tensions reportedly flared outside the Luzon Economic Corridor Investors Forum as protesters voiced opposition to Pax Silica, a United States (US)-led coalition of 14 countries—including the Philippines—aiming to strengthen supply chains for artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. Stakeholders and progressive groups have raised concerns related to the possible displacement of communities and environmental protection. According to Baesa, at least 16 police officers were injured. “Mga suntok. May mga gasgas-gasgas. May mga tama,” he explained. (They were punched. Some had scratches. Some were hit.) “Hindi kailanman nagsimula ang pulis talaga ng gulo… Lagi namang maximum tolerance kami,” he added. (The police have never started trouble… We’ve always been for maximum tolerance.) He noted that the four individuals arrested were taken to the Taguig City Police Station. In a statement later on Thursday, however, the Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment said only three individuals had been arrested, identifying them as paralegals. “This is an outrageous and scandalous act of harassment against human rights defenders simply doing their job,” the group maintained. “We condemn this blatant attack on paralegals and the shrinking space for dissent against foreign-dominated infrastructure deals like the Luzon Economic Corridor,” it added. The Inquirer sought further details from the SPD, but its Public Information Office has yet to respond as of posting time. This is a developing story. /gsg
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Inquirer NewsInfo