Farmer-protesters briefly blocked Koronadal-Gen. Santos Highway; PNP on heightened alert

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 24): Farmer-protesters briefly blocked Koronadal-Gen. Santos Highway; PNP on heightened alert

Police authorities here remained on alert and applied maximum tolerance against farmer-protesters who barricaded portions of the Koronadal-Gen. Santos Highway Sunday morning, preventing motorists from passing through it for about an hour.

Senior Supt. Barney Condes, Koronadal City police director, said the farmers, who have been asking rice subsidy from the government, formed human barricade, brandishing placards that said "Bugas, dili bala," starting at about 9:30 a.m.

Domingo Azures, speaking for the rally organizer Anak Pawis Partylist, said they will continue asking for rice subsidy from the government because Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala has made it public that Mindanao has enough supply of rice for the victims of the continuing dry spell.

Vehicles, private and public transport, were stranded on opposite sides of the national highway in front of the SOCCSKSARGEN Regional Center in Barangay Carpenter Hills.

Supt. Barney Condes, Koronadal City police director, said negotiations were underway to convince the protesters to just occupy half of the highway so vehicles could pass through.

Protesting farmers left the highway open after about an hour of closing it.

Condes welcomed the reopening of the highway but admitted they received reports the farmers would again barricade the highway anytime.

He assured maximum tolerance will be applied against the farmers.

Meanwhile, vital installations in Koronadal City have been secured with the deployment of peace officers, including the National Food Authority (NFA) warehouse, government buildings, public markets, malls and even media outlets following reports of possible sabotage by communist guerrillas.

Elements of the 27th Infantry Battalion have been deployed around the city to thwart any attempt of destabilization.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=879201