Parts of a police shield and rocks are all that remain of the farmers’ protest action which was violently dispersed by police in Kidapawan City on April 1. JOHN PAGADUAN / CONTRIBUTOR
Vice presidential bet and Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero urged the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Thursday to conduct a parallel probe into the violent dispersal last week in Kidapawan City that left three farmers dead and dozens more injured.
“The NBI should be given a free hand in the investigation in order to avoid suspicions of a possible whitewash,” Escudero said in a statement.
The senator said the Philippine National Police (PNP), which has started an investigation into the incident, “will have no credibility” since the violent dispersal was reportedly carried out by the local police.
READ: PNP probing Kidapawan incident, claims 2 policemen also hurt
A number of anti-riot police were reportedly injured, including two in critical condition due to head trauma. The PNP is claiming that it has proof the demonstrators started the violence.
“The PNP probing an incident involving its men will have no credibility whatsoever. I believe that it is imperative that the NBI assume control of the investigation immediately,” Escudero said.
He said the protest would not have turned bloody if the police observed maximum tolerance in dealing with protesters and if the government took steps to help the El Niño-stricken farmers.
“One of the greatest tragedies of the Kidapawan City shooting of farmers and agricultural workers is this: Filipino farmers and agricultural workers are begging for rice to feed themselves. How can we sleep at night when we have this inhumane situation?
“We cannot blame these folks for demanding direct assistance of cavans of rice from the government. They need to feed themselves daily in order not to die. Literally death is staring at them, not only hunger. We have to understand their situation that they are literally asking for their next meals,” Escudero added.
The Senate committee on justice and human rights has also started a separate investigation on the incident.
READ: Senate to probe Kidapawan incident
RELATED VIDEOS
