A protest encampment outside the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) along Elliptical Road turned violent on Monday, 19 October, as the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) moved to dismantle a temporary bamboo shelter due to a lack of a local permit.
The confrontation broke out after demonstrators—consisting of farmers, youth advocates, and peasant organizations—attempted to erect the temporary structures to camp out near the agency.
According to the QCPD, law enforcement engaged in a dialogue with protest leaders, stating the proposal was disallowed without official authorization from the local government.
Despite this warning, protesters proceeded with construction, prompting police personnel to intervene and dismantle the camp.
The clash resulted in injuries on both sides.
The QCPD reported that several police officers were hurt and brought to the Philippine National Police (PNP) General Hospital for medical attention.
Conversely, protest organizers claimed several demonstrators were also injured as they attempted to protect their belongings.
Protesters maintained they had secured verbal permission from both DAR and city officials, though these claims remain unverified.
Peasant groups condemned the police intervention as harassment against those exercising their right to peaceful assembly.
The demonstration is part of ongoing protests opposing land-use conversion and development projects that groups argue threaten agricultural communities, displace farmers, and undermine food security.
The groups are demanding genuine agrarian reform ahead of upcoming mobilizations for Peasant’s Day on Wednesday, 21 October, which also marks the anniversary of Presidential Decree No. 27.
Meanwhile, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) strongly condemned the QCPD for using force against Bulatlat reporter Ernest Cruz, who was covering the protest.
Video footage showed Cruz identifying himself as media and presenting his ID before police applied physical restraint.
The NUJP denounced the incident as a violation of the October 2025 agreement between the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) and the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS), which explicitly prohibits violence against journalists.
The union demanded accountability for the officers involved and urged authorities to respect press freedom during public demonstrations.
