A construction worker from Tondo, Manila, died after being struck by a stray bullet during a dispersal of protesters on Recto Avenue on the night of September 21, prompting public outrage and calls for police accountability.
The Manila Police District (MPD) confirmed on Sept. 29 that 35-year-old Eric Saber succumbed to a gunshot wound to the neck two days after the incident.
Saber and his brother were on their way home from work when they were caught in the chaos between police forces and youth demonstrators.
According to his brother, Eric collapsed while crossing Recto Avenue to catch a jeepney bound for Balut.
MPD spokesperson Maj. Philipp Ines stated that the bullet did not come from police firearms and emphasized that officers exercised “maximum tolerance” during the riot.
However, the investigation remains ongoing, with witness statements collected but no CCTV footage available due to the destruction of cameras during the unrest.
The same night, a Grade 10 student from Taguig City was fatally stabbed by a watch repairman, identified as 52-year-old Richard Francisco, who surrendered to authorities the following day.
In response to Saber’s death, progressive groups staged a protest rally outside the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Camp Crame on Sept. 29.
Demonstrators condemned what they described as a “militarized response” to peaceful assemblies and demanded a transparent probe into the shooting.
Eyewitness accounts and circulating videos showing armed police chasing protesters have intensified public scrutiny.
Human rights advocates joined the rally, urging the PNP to hold those responsible accountable and to reassess protocols for crowd control during demonstrations. (Patrick Garcia, Allysa Nievera)
