Pimentel: No politics in Kidapawan violence probe

DAVAO CITY – Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Thursday denied accusations that the public hearing here on the Kidapawan City violence that marred the protest of starving farmers from North Cotabato, was “in aid of election” as alleged by Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile.

Pimentel, a head of the Senate committee that spearheaded the investigation, told reporters that he was not a candidate in the May elections, and that Enrile should talk to his partymate, Sen. Tito Sotto, who gave his permission for the conduct of the hearing.

“I hope Senator Enrile would file a formal complaint instead of talking to media,” Pimentel said, in stressing that the inquiry was not meant to boost the election of any candidate or use the tragedy as a platform to destroy the political fortunes of anybody.

Two farmers were killed while 100 farmers and policemen were injured in a riot that ensued, when police moved to forcibly dismantle the barricade set up by the protesting farmers along a Kidapawan City highway on April 1, to demand the immediate release of food aid from the government.  SFM