THE Public Attorney’s Office has sought the dismissal of the criminal cases filed against Kidapawan farmers involved in the violent clash with policemen last April 1.
PAO chief Persida Rueda-Acosta disclosed that their local public attorneys representing 52 of the more than 70 detained farmers filed before the Kidapawan municipal trial court a motion to quash the charges for direct assault, frustrated murder and illegal assembly filed against them by local police.
According to her, the PAO lawyers questioned the validity of the arrest and filing of the case against the farmers, which included three pregnant women, six senior citizens and several minors.
Because of this, Persida stressed that local PAO lawyers, led by Orlando Daño, also sought the suspension of the court proceedings pending judicial determination of probable cause but Judge Rebecca de Leon denied both motions in a hearing yesterday afternoon.
She also lamented that most of the farmers remained in jail despite being granted bail, amounting to P6,000 each, by the court.
Acosta said only three of their clients were able to post bail, while the 49 others remained in detention for lack of any identification card or proof.
“Only three farmers were released [Wednesday]. The rest were not released due to lack of IDs. I instructed the local PAO to get barangay certificates of residency, but their barangay is very far from the city. We hope to secure the certificates within today [Thursday],” she said, in an interview.
Various sectors have called for the release of the detained Kidapawan farmers.
Militant groups led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan alleged that the arrest was illegal, citing findings in Senate inquiry that the farmers were deceived by the Philippine National Police before they were arrested.
It was found that they were offered a ride back to their communities and were even given food. It was only later that they were brought to a gym and a school where they were declared under arrest, Bayan said.
The farmers from the towns of Arakan, Antipas, President Roxas and Magpet were asking for food assistance in the wake of the effects of drought in Kidapawan City. But the mass action turned into a violent dispersal that led to the death of two farmers and injured several others.
The protesters earlier said they plan to file charges of multiple murder, serious physical injuries, and violation of human rights.
Meanwhile, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines denounced the death and injuries of farmers in Kidapawan, North Cotabato.
Two people were killed and over 30 were injured, mostly farmers in the violent dispersal last April 1. The farmers are calling for government’s assistance after their crops were withered by the drought.
IBP, a mandatory organization of all lawyers, called on the government to identify and prosecute those responsible for the violent dispersal.
“The Integrated Bar of the Philippines calls on the government, concerned agencies, authorities and personalities for an impartial and credible investigation to immediately determine the responsible and accountable characters in this tragedy and bring justice to the victims and their families,” Atty. Rosario T. Setias-Reyes, IBP National President said, in a statement.