The statement said police officers slapped Numeron, punched Valderama on his stomach, and tried to scrape off Mora’s tattoo on his hand with a ballpen. The Inquirer tried to get the response of Kawit police chief Lt. Col. Richard Corpuz to Bayan’s claims but he was no longer answering his phone. Earlier, Corpuz said the police arrested more people but had to release three who turned out to be mere bystanders in the event. Cruz said the rallyists were protesting the country’s “fake” independence from foreign intervention. “It has become even more ‘fake’ with (President) Duterte selling off our natural resources to the US and China,” she said.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer June 12, 2019 21:11 UTC