Kidapawan highway blockade cleared – mayor

From Rappler (Apr 4): Kidapawan highway blockade cleared – mayor

The detained farmers are also formally charged with direct assault at the Kidapawan City Prosecutors' Office



CONDEMNATION. Activists stage a rally in front of the Department of Agriculture building in Quezon City to protest the violent dispersal of farmers in Kidapawan City. Photo by Mark Saludes/Rappler

The Davao-Cotabato Highway, which was blocked for 3 days by drought-affected farmers who were demanding aid from the provincial government, has been cleared, Kidapawan City Mayor Joseph Evangelista said Sunday, April 3.

Around 1,000 farmers, however, are still staying at the compound of the United Methodist Church. The mayor said some want to go home but are being prevented by the protesters' marshals.

Farmers who were detained, meanwhile, have been formally charged with direct assault at the Kidapawan City Prosecutors' Office, according to Kilab Multimedia.

Local radio station One Radio, quoting city prosecutors, said that the detained farmers need P12,000 bond.

Kilab, in a series of Facebook posts, also said that the farmers have been prevented by police from getting aid being distributed by concerned citizens and organizations.

Kilab Multimedia

on Saturday

April 3 2016. 12:00pm. Just in: Another tension started as 300 farmers from Makilala are being prevented and harrassed by the police to get their share from the rice donations from citizens.

 

 

 

 

 

Two people were killed and 116 wounded during the violent dispersal of the farmers' protest last Friday, April 1. The protesters were blocking the Davao-Cotabato Highway to seek government assistance, as their livelihoods have been severely affected by drought in the past several months.

The farmers demanded that North Cotabato Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza release 15,000 sacks of rice to them, but she reportedly refused to talk to them.

The Philippine National Police said the permit to rally lapsed Friday morning. The highway protest that began 6 am on March 30 brought together farmers, members of indigenous groups, and other cause-oriented groups.

http://www.rappler.com/nation/128090-kidapawan-highway-reopened-farmers