During the 2013 SONA of the President, PO1 Joselito Sevilla made a headline as the crying cop who stood his grounds against the protesters. The anti-riot policeman was caught on cam berated by a foreigner during a face to face encounter.
Photo Courtesy: Rem Zamora of ABS-CBN
Activists wanted to go near the Batasan Complex but they were blocked by anti-riot policemen, one of them was PO1 Joselito Sevilla now known as the crying policeman. During the dispersal of protesters, rocks were thrown and people were hit with truncheons and shields. The members of the media stayed on top of a dump truck for a clearer view of the incident while other members of the press were sandwiched by the clashing protesters and policemen.
According to some reports there are at least 50 people were injured during the long and tiring dispersal. There’s a story behind the clashes, as caught on camera by photographer Rem Zamora, a photojournalist based in Quezon City who currently works for ABS-CBN as feature and documentary photographer.
The photographer Rem Zamora was able to capture some of the most heart-touching views of the crying policeman. During the dispersal, a foreign protesters was berating a policeman asking him why they were hurting the people. “Why are you doing this to us? Why are you hurting us?!”
The officer simply stood his ground. “I am a policeman, I’m just doing my job.” According to PO1 Joselito Sevilla, his job was to maintain peace and order. He said they were given orders and they had to follow. Suddenly, the officer cried. The foreigner kept on shouting at the cop, the policeman couldn’t stop crying. He was trying to hold his tears, but he couldn’t.
Another round of clashes erupted. The policemen were still trying to push and shove the protesters away. The crying cop simply stood his ground. He was still holding his shield firmly. Still weeping, sobbing.
When photojournalist Rem Zamora approached the crying cop and asked why he cried, he only said: “a gutom at pagod. Walang tulog. Walang pahinga. Dalawang araw na kami naka-deploy dito. Tapos ganito, nagkakagulo” PO1 Sevilla answered. The policemen who stood their ground was finally understood, No sleep, No food, No rest. Sevilla was physically and emotionally exhausted. He was just following orders, he was just doing his job not to let protesters get near to the Batasan Complex.
When the protesters noticed the crying cop, PO1 Joselito Sevilla, whom they expected to retaliate, was in front of them, holding his shield firmly, weeping, they started to sonsole the crying cop. A man held his shoulder, telling him that everything would be all right. Another woman comforted him, as he tried to give him a handkerchief to wipe his tears.
The crying cop, PO1 Joselito Sevilla came from the Marikina Police Unit and it was his first dispersal (–foul word(s) removed–)ignment.
Here are some photos taken by Rem Zamora of the crying cop PO1 Joselito Sevilla:
