Senate committee resumes probe on Kidapawan protest dispersal
THE SENATE committee on justice and human rights will hold today the second session of its probe into what turned out to be a violent dispersal of protesting farmers in Kidapawan City on April 1, this time in Manila, as committee members hope to have top officials of national agencies present.
During the first public hearing held in Davao City on April 7, the committee said it invited the secretaries of the Departments of Interior and Local Government, Agriculture, and Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to explain lapses in the delivery of aid to El Niño-affected communities.
The farmers claimed that the protest was mainly to demand for rice supply that will help tide hem over in the prevailing drought.
Their leader, Jerry Alborme of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas- North Cotabato, said in a statement that they will be attending the Senate session in Manila to “share their story” about the abuses in the aftermath of the protest where 78 farmers were detained and charged for direct assault. Those arrested are currently out on bail. Meanwhile, an official from the social action arm of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has expressed alarm over reports of delayed release of government funds that would help ease the burden of farmers suffering from the effects of El Niño.
“What is taking them long from releasing these available funds? We have already seen enough bloodshed in Kidapawan… rooted [in] the government’s inaction to this national concern,” Catholic priest Edwin Gariguez, executive secretary of the National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA)/Caritas Philippines, was quoted in a statement yesterday.
The DSWD earlier said there is an available P1.32- billion quick- response fund for 2016 and another P6.7 billion for the implementation of cash- for-work and livelihood assistance for families affected by El Niño.