DARAGA, Albay–Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday called on President Benigno Aquino III to apologize, on behalf of the government, and order an investigation on the violent dispersal of protesting farmers in Kidapawan City in North Cotabato on Friday.
READ: Aquino to blame for Kidapawan dispersal, says Duterte aide
Cayetano said he would also ask Mr. Aquino to take care and provide assistance to the families of those who died and hurt during a violent dispersal by policemen against farmers protesting and demanding government assistance after their farmlands were destroyed by the severe drought.
Cayetano, who met with coconut farmers in Daraga town here on Friday said, “I want to get to the bottom of this. The President has to make a strong statement why this happened.”
He said an “honest to goodness” and a “no nonsense” investigation be conducted to find out who really was at fault.
“I don’t want to believe that the policemen involved in the dispersal were ‘trigger happy’ nor would I not want to believe that the protesting farmers were also armed,” he said. TVJ
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