Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla revealed on Sunday that the rallyists who violently confronted anti-riot police and set a container van ablaze during demonstrations had planned to “burn down” Malacañang.
“Ang initial information namin, ang plano nila is to breach the perimeter and burn down the Palace,” Remulla said. He later added that a couple of the suspects admitted to it.
Moreover, Remulla disclosed that most of the rallyists involved in the brutal encounter were not even of age, based on initial information. Consequently, they cannot be questioned by authorities unless accompanied by personnel of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
“‘Yung mga nambabato kanina were minors. Tingin namin mga 17 years old. So hindi pa namin ma-interview dahil hinihintay namin ang DSWD bago sila ma-interview, kung ano talaga ang purpose nila, tsaka kung bakit sila na-agitate. So, we’re doing everything by the book,” he said.
“Nakita ko ‘yung mukha, most of them look 15, 16 years old. We suspect them to be members of a fraternity, but we’re not sure yet kung ano ang grupo nila. Pero mga bata e. Hindi nagsasalita,” he added.
Although the minors cannot be punished, those of legal age will be “dealt with according to the law,” Remulla told reporters.
“As much as we tolerate a peaceful demonstration, we will not tolerate the plotters of a violent overthrow,” he said.
Continued maximum tolerance, rallies still generally peaceful
The interior secretary vowed that law enforcement will continue to exercise maximum tolerance and respect the people’s right to dissent. However, it would take action against “agitation.”
“We will stay here until as long as it takes. We will allow them to demonstrate, we will allow a peaceful demonstration, we will not disperse anyone in the People Power monument,” he promised.
“The President believes that the people have a right to vent their anger and frustration against the perpetrators of the massive corruption scandal, and he is for the peaceful demonstration,” he added.
Remulla believes that the earlier torching incident was an isolated case and the rallies remain generally “peaceful.”
“Outside of this isolated incident, everything is peaceful. Everything is according to their permit, wala namang violent agitators. Dito lang, there was a small group na sumobra sila,” Remulla said.
WATCH: Ayon kay DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla, karamihan sa mga nambato sa Ayala Bridge ay mga menor de edad batay sa inisyal na impormasyon.
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) September 21, 2025
Hindi naman bababa sa 19 ang nagtamo ng minor injury mula sa hanay ng PNP mula sa nangyaring tensyon.
Giit ni Remulla, iginagalang ng… pic.twitter.com/CdqArppF4J
Despite this, somewhere between 19 to 25 policemen were injured.
