Dutchman held over crying cop
MANILA — A Dutch activist blamed for making a Philippine policeman cry in an incident that drew global attention was detained yesterday, the immigration bureau said.
Thomas van Beersum was the protester who was photographed standing up to and yelling at a weeping Filipino riot policeman during an anti- government protest in Manila on July 22, Immigration spokeswoman Antonette Mangrobang told AFP.
At the rally outside parliament, where President Benigno Aquino was making his annual policy address, “he participated in a protest rally... where he berated and (used) foul words directed at the government and a police officer,” she told AFP.
“His real intention in coming to this country was not for tourism, business or pleasure but to protest against the government and engage in partisan political activity which proves him undesirable,” she added.
Photographs of the incident, showing policeman Joselito Sevilla weeping as he holds back van Beersum and other activists, spread around the world on the Internet.
Sevilla later told local television that he was crying from hunger and exhaustion as he secured parliament.
Mangrobang said Van Beersum had entered the country on a tourist visa but had violated the conditions of his stay by joining a protest.
Van Beersum was held by immigration on Tuesday at Manila airport as he prepared to board a flight back to the Netherlands, she said.
Under bureau procedures, it will first check if he has any pending criminal charges in the Philippines. If he is cleared, he will be sent home but barred from ever returning.