MANILA — Interior and Local Government Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla commended the Philippine National Police (PNP) for exercising maximum tolerance in managing violent protesters in Mendiola, Manila.

In a Malacañang press briefing, Remulla praised the 4,000 police personnel deployed around Malacañang for maintaining professionalism despite being provoked.

“Nakakaawa po ang mga pulis natin – binuhusan ng tubig galing sa kanal, binato ng hollow block, binugbog at binato ng molotov cocktail, nasusunog sa tabi nila. Pero ganoon pa man, walang ginamit na dahas laban sa mga rallyista,” he said.

The DILG chief stressed that police personnel did not carry firearms or teargas and only pushed back when molotov cocktails were hurled.

Remulla also dispelled rumors that anyone died during the dispersal, clarifying that no protesters were seriously hurt. He said 95 police officers sustained injuries, some of them serious.

Authorities arrested 216 individuals, including 89 minors — 65 aged 15 to 17 and 24 aged 14 and below.

Remulla said the nationwide protest was largely peaceful but was marred by violence after “a group of 1,000 hooligans who wanted nothing but to spread anarchy” joined the demonstrations.

PNP Acting Chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. reported that about 50,000 police officers were deployed nationwide, half of them in Metro Manila, to monitor the rallies. He estimated that around 84,000 people joined the protests across the country.