Kidapawan farmers file charges vs LGU, PNP

Farmers who barricaded a highway in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato, to demand for food aid from government, board the truck that will bring them home after they received rice donations from celebrities and private groups. Photo by Williamor Magbanua, INQUIRER Mindanao

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—After conveying their grievances to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) last week, farmers who were violently dispersed by the police during a protest in Kidapawan City on April 1 have filed criminal and administrative charges against local government and law enforcement officials at the Office of the Ombudsman for Mindanao.

The complainants include the families of farmers, who were shot during the dispersal, as well as those who had been arrested and detained by police authorities, said Jerome Aba, national spokesperson of Suara Bangsamoro, one of the groups that backed the protest.

Lawyer Edre Olalia, secretary general of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL), said the farmers had filed the complaints in two batches at the Ombudsman office in Davao City.

The first wave of complaints, prepared by the Union of Peoples’ Lawyers in Mindanao, was filed on Monday  by Ebao Sulang, Victor Lumondan Jr., Arnel Takyawan, Mark Anthony Delgado and Lumenario Agustin. The charges were for illegal arrest and detention against 77 police officers, armed forces members and government officials.

The second wave, Olalia said, was prepared by the NUPL and the Public Interest Law Center. These were for murder, frustrated murder, attempted murder, obstruction of justice, torture and physical injuries and violation of right to assembly.

Complainants

The complainants in the second set included militant leaders Gerardo Alborme, Bai Ali Indayla and Sheena Duazo; and farmers Loreto Felizardo, Zandro Redondo, Mark Anthony Delgado, Dionisio Alagos, Crisanto Carlum, Valentina Berdin, Jovita Debalid, Lolita Porras, Mirriam Damiog, Arlene Candiban, Eliza Candiban, Rolinda Paonil, Lumeriano Agustin and Christopher Candiban.

Human rights group Karapatan said at least 94 national and local officials, police and military officers had been charged for their involvement and participation in the grave human rights violations against the farmers.

Those facing the charges include North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza, members of the North Cotabato crisis committee, Interior Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento, PNP Director General Ricardo Marquez, Kidapawan Mayor Joseph Evangelista, Central Mindanao police director Chief Supt. Noel Armilla and sacked North Cotabato police director Supt. Alexander Tagum.

The respondents could not be reached for comment.