Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla on Monday said that the violent protesters last Sunday, whom he called “terrorists,” could face sedition charges, among other cases to be filed against them.

During a press briefing in Malacanang, Remulla said authorities are now developing cases against the arrested protesters and investigating their instigators.

“We will label them as terrorists. And as far as sedition pwede namin i-charge sa kanila. We’ve proven it already,” Remulla said.

The DILG chief reported that 216 individuals, including 89 minors, were arrested by the police during the clashes around Mendiola last Sunday. The rest of the nationwide anti-corruption protest actions that day were conducted peacefully.

Among the arrested minors, 65 were aged 15 to 17 years old while 24 were 14 years old and below.

Remulla said that during initial questioning, the arrested minors admitted they had intended to “burn” Malacanan Palace.

“Nandiyan iyong arson, nandiyan iyong grave physical injuries and we can go as far as sedition. Iyong statement lang nila na, ‘Gusto namin sunugin iyong Palasyo’ is a seditious act in itself,” said Remulla.

Remulla also reported that one of the program speakers at the rally in Liwasang Bonifacio urged those gathered to march to Mendiola and bring their lighters, apparently intended for lighting molotov homemade explosives.

“So that was a confirmation na they had intended to burn the Palace,” said Remulla.

Remulla said there was a prior intelligence report that protesters would try to attack the Palace, but President Marcos still ordered a maximum tolerance policy among the Philippine National Police personnel.

A total of 95 PNP personnel were injured in the Mendiola clashes, some requiring medical treatment for serious injuries.

“We knew that they would try, they would attempt. We had a suspicion that they would use violence. Pero ang directive talaga ng ating Pangulo is to use maximum tolerance,” the DILG chief said. Presidential News Desk