Confrontation between teachers and police at a protest near Malacañang, October 4, 2026. Darylle Sarmiento, ABS-CBN News
MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday defended the security measures implemented during a teachers’ protest near Malacañang Palace, saying police personnel were only enforcing existing rules on the conduct of public assemblies.
PNP chief PGen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said protesters were supposed to hold their demonstration at a designated freedom park instead of staging the protest near a church in the Malacañang area.
“Supposed to be doon dapat sila sa freedom park, freedom zone at doon sila maglabas maski maghapon pa,” Nartatez said in a press briefing at Camp Crame.
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Nartatez said police were deployed to ensure the safety of protesters but stressed that demonstrators also have a responsibility to follow regulations governing public assemblies.
He cited Batas Pambansa Blg. 880, or the Public Assembly Act of 1985, which governs the conduct of rallies and other public assemblies.
“Ang rally ay may permit, punta ka sa freedom park at doon mo gawin. Other than that, it is called illegal assembly,” he said.
“Ang kanilang sinasabi, hindi natin kini-curtail. We are asking them to peacefully disperse at umalis doon,” he added, stressing that police did not curtail the protesters’ right to express their grievances.
The PNP chief has ordered an assessment of the incident and is reviewing how future dispersals can be carried out more smoothly.
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) staged the protest on October 4, a day before World Teachers’ Day, to call for a P50,000 entry-level salary for teachers, a P5,000 increase in the Personnel Economic Relief Allowance (PERA), and an allocation equivalent to 6 percent of the country’s gross domestic product for education.
Reports indicated that the protest ended in a physical confrontation between demonstrators and police personnel deployed in the area.
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TEACHERS CONDEMN ‘VIOLENT DISPERSAL’
In a statement Monday, ACT Teachers party-list Rep. and Deputy Minority Leader Antonio Tinio condemned what he described as a violent police dispersal.
ACT Philippines said 16 teachers and students were injured, while the personal belongings of five individuals were damaged.
It also claimed that two megaphones were seized and broken by police.
"Hindi katanggap-tanggap ang karahasang ginawa ng pulisya laban sa mga gurong mapayapa na nananawagan sa dagdag na sahod at benepisyo. Ni hindi nila ginalang ang mga gurong nananawagan lang para dito,” Tinio said.
“Sa halip na pakinggan ang lehitimong hinaing ng mga guro ng bayan, sinagot sila ng baton, dumanak na dugo, at wasak na mga gamit," he added.
He accused authorities of violating the protesters’ right to free expression and peaceful assembly.
Tinio called on the PNP to investigate the incident and hold accountable the officers responsible for the reported injuries and property damage.
He urged the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to conduct an independent probe.
The ACT lawmaker said the group would continue its campaign for higher salaries, better benefits, and increased funding for education.
“Huwag tayong susuko sa kanilang pananakot. Ang ganitong panggigipit ay patunay lamang na tama ang ating ipinaglalaban,” Tinio said.
“Babalik tayo — mas marami at mas determinado — hanggang maipanalo natin ang sahod at benepisyong matagal nang dapat na naibigay sa mga guro.”
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