The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has denied that police were responsible for the death of construction worker Eric Saber, who was killed by a gunshot during the September 21 anti-corruption protest.
Camarines Sur Representative Arnie Fuentebella, sponsor of the agency’s 2026 budget, issued the statement during plenary deliberations in response to a query from Kamanggagawa party-list Representative Eli San Fernando. The Philippine National Police (PNP) is an attached agency of the DILG.
“As far as we are concerned, wala pong nag-discharge ng firearm sa ating kapulisan,” Fuentebella said, adding that they have photos showing armed rioters. “So it may be an accidental fire.”
He stressed that police officers did not fire any weapon that could have caused Saber’s death. “Wala po sa ating kapulisan na nagpuktok ng baril para po malagas ‘yung buhay,” he said.
Fuentebella added that the police will conduct an investigation to determine accountability. “Justice should be done. And since we have pictures of rioters who had guns, we will identify them, we will investigate, to give justice to our fellow Filipino who died,” he said.
While emphasizing respect for free expression, Fuentebella also underscored that violence cannot be tolerated. “We respect the freedom of speech of our people, but we cannot tolerate violence because we have to implement the law,” he said.
House Deputy Minority Leader Antonio Tinio later asked whether the PNP had accounted for injuries caused by police actions, citing videos showing Saber’s death. Fuentebella responded: “None [of the casualties that ensued were] inflicted by the PNP.”
