‘North Cotabato residents to stage rally in support of police, provincial gov’t Monday’

DAVAO CITY — To show their support of the police and the provincial government days after the violent dispersal of a farmers’ barricade, supporters of North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño Mendoza will be staging their own protest in Kidapawan City on Monday.

“This is initiated by people who got really hurt by what they have read on Facebook. They felt bad that it seems that the works that the provincial government has done are being discredited,” Mendoza told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by phone.

Mendoza assured the public it would be a peaceful demonstration by ordinary residents to reaffirm their support and appreciation of the police and the municipal and provincial governments.

“They said that they will do it to repay the provincial government for the efforts that it has done,” Mendoza said.

But Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas-North Cotabato spokesperson Jerry Alborme called the planned rally insensitive because it would mean the shelling out of cash that could have been used to help feed the hungry farmers.

“The provincial government of North Cotabato is organizing a rally in support of Lala Mendoza’s brutality. Accordingly, LGU will spend P50,000 for each barangay for every 30 persons. Governor Lala has money for her own organized rally but cannot provide food for the hungry farmers,” Alborme said.

Alborme called this a case of misusing funds just to defend the governor.

“This act will not save the governor, but will instead show the world that she is more interested in saving face than solving people’s problem,” Alborme remarked.

The provincial government is now under fire, not only because of the questions on how it has responded to the effects of El Niño, but also because of the dispersal of the barricading farmers that left at least three people dead and at least 116 farmers and policemen wounded.

Mendoza said the accusations were unfair, unfounded and very offensive not just for her but also for the people who have been serving the province of North Cotabato.

“That really is not fair. Ordinary people initiated the event (the planned protest on Monday). In fact, no one will use vehicles with red plates and there will be no distribution of food from government funds,” Mendoza said.  SFM

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