Nartatez: No ‘harassment’ as cops pushed back rallyists at Asean meeting

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. speaks to reporters in Pasay City on Wednesday night, July 22, 2026. (Photo by JASON SIGALES / INQUIRER.net)

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. insisted that there was no harassment by law enforcers as they pushed back against a group of protesters rallying outside an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) meeting.

“The rallyists were the one provoking,” Nartatez told reporters in a chance interview in Pasay City on Wednesday night.

“Did our police officers curse at them? No such thing happened. There’s no such thing as harassment,” he said.

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Nartatez: No ‘harassment’ as cops pushed back rallyists at Asean meeting

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