The Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights will start an investigation on April 7, Thursday, into the the bloody dispersal by policemen of Kidapawan City rallyists on April 1 which left three protesters dead and dozens injured, including policemen.
Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III will head the committee which will also look into how the government handled the El Niño calamity which has rendered unproductive vast farmlands in Mindanao.
Among those expected to be invited to the Senate investigation are Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, North Cotabato Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza, Police Provincial Director Alexander Tagum, Kidapawan City Mayor Joseph Evangelista and leaders of the three-day rally.
The rally which started March 28 was staged by farmers supported by the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and other Left-leaning groups like Bayan Muna and Suara Bangsamoro.
The rallyists demanded for the release of 15,000 bags of rice as calamity assistance of the Provincial Government for farmers affected by the El Niño.
The protesters barricaded the national highway preventing big trucks from hauling goods to Davao City and affecting commuters.
On Friday morning, shortly after it was announced on local radio that Davao City Mayor and leading presidential candidate Rody Duterte might drop by from a sortie in nearby Bukidnon Province, to look into ways to resolve the problem, an order was issued to disperse the rallyists.
In the ensuing dispersal operation, the protesters battled the policemen with rocks and stones while the policemen fired back.
Three protesters were killed while dozens were injured. Many more were arrested and charged before the local courts.
Policemen were also injured, one of them seriously.
The Senate hearing will be held at the Social Hall of the University of Southeastern Philippines in Davao City and will start at 9 a.m.
(Video of an interview with me by Sonshine Media April 4 and posted on youtube.com)
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