THE Quezon City government vehemently condemned on Tuesday the violent dispersal of police forces to students during their protest rally at the House of Representatives in Batasan Hills.

QC Mayor Joy Belmonte said the dispersal is unacceptable, as the students are only peacefully protesting important issues in Congress.

Belmonte also said that an investigation is underway for the incident.

“Walang puwang ang ganitong aksiyon sa lungsod, lalo pa’t kilala ang Quezon City bilang lugar kung saan malayang nakakapagtipon at nakakapagpahayag ng saloobin at karapatan ang iba’t ibang grupo,” Belmote said in a statement.

“Pinaalalahanan ko rin si QCPD Chief General Red Maranan na hindi natin kukunsintihin ang ganitong gawi. Agad namang inatasan ni General Maranan ang Internal Affairs Service na imbestigahan kung may paglabag sa Police Operational Procedures,” she added.

The Catalyst, the official student publication of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, posted videos on Monday showing cops shoving students with riot shields and hitting them with sticks during a dispersal.

They are protesting the “non-representation” of students in the deliberations for the National Polytechnic University Bill, which the students noted could pave the way for privatization of the university.