Press Release
April 6, 2016

CHIZ PROTESTS FILING OF CASES VS KIDAPAWAN FARMERS

Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero lashed out at the Cotabato police for filing charges against 43 farmers who led thousands of protesting peasants in Kidapawan City, saying it showed the lack of heart and compassion of authorities.

Escudero said that while the government has yet to address the concerns of the starving farmers, who have been bearing the brunt of a strong El Niño since last year, it had the audacity to file charges against them.

"Nais kong paimbestigahan nang masusi iyon dahil pinalalabas pa yata ng pulis na armado at nakipagbarilan 'yung mga protester," said Escudero, who is running as independent under the banner "Gobyernong may Puso."

The Cotabato police, led by their troop commander, Senior Supt. Alex Tagum, filed on Monday complaints of economic sabotage, harassments, obstruction of traffic flow and illegal assembly against the protesting farmers.

Three farmers were confirmed dead and several others were wounded as violence marred the dispersal of protesting farmers along the Cotabato-Davao highway last week.

Escudero insisted that violence should have not happened had the police observed maximum tolerance and if the government had taken steps to help the agricultural workers and farmers severely affected by drought.

"Bigas at pagkain ang hinihingi ng mga magsasaka. Ang malungkot na kwento 'yung nagpapakain sa ating mga magsasaka, sila mismo wala silang makain," Escudero, the frontrunner in various pre-elections surveys, pointed out.

He added: "Siguro hindi naman rason iyon para pagbabarilin o i-disperse. Hindi naman po sila nakakasakit ng tao. Kung saka-sakaling nakakasagabal, hindi pa rin siguro dapat buhay ang kapalit noon.

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