PAO: Brownouts stall release of arrested farmers in Kidapawan
The processing of the release of farmers arrested after the violent dispersal in Kidapawan, North Cotabato, on April 1 has been stalled due to rotating brownouts in the area.
Public Attorneys Office (PAO) chief Persida Rueda-Acosta said more than 20 farmers had been allowed to go and they were still facilitating the release of the others.
The lawyers already have the amount needed, which is more than P500,000, to secure the temporary liberty of all the accused.
However, Acosta said they were having difficulty facilitating the release due to the rotating brownouts.
“If the processing of the release orders will not be finished today (Friday), the remaining farmers will have to wait until Monday,” she said.
A total of 79 individuals, mostly protesting farmers, were arrested after their clash with the police.
Two farmers were killed and more than 30 were injured in the incident.
The 79 accused, who include three pregnant women and senior citizens, one of whom is a 78-year-old woman, have been charged in court for direct assault, frustrated murder and illegal assembly.
Acosta said the Kidapawan Municipal Trial Court waived its requirement for the accused to present identification cards or documents in posting bail.
“The court waived the ID requirement and accepted the certification of a priest as proof of residency of the farmers in their barangays,” Acosta said.
Apart from PAO, helping the farmers are lawyers from the National Union of People’s Lawyers, Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Union of Peoples’ Lawyers in Mindanao and the Public Interest Law Center.
The farmers came from the towns of Arakan, Antipas, President Roxas and Magpet. They were asking for food assistance in the wake of the effects of drought in Kidapawan City.
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