Heads must roll in Kidapawan incident – Leni

MANILA, Philippines – Heads must roll after the deadly dispersal last Friday of protesting farmers in Kidapawan City, Liberal Party vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo said yesterday.

She said the policemen involved in the death of three farmers during a violent dispersal of their protest rally must be held accountable.

“Why did this have to happen? Why did it have to end in deaths when the root of the problem is many of our countrymen are in poverty because of the drought,” Robredo said.

“Unless the government acts quickly on the drought, and holds accountable those who are responsible for the deaths, our farmers will continue to suffer,” she said.

The Camarines Sur congresswoman said top police officials of the province, especially those who spearheaded the dispersal, should be relieved immediately to prevent them from influencing the investigation into the violence that also left 116 protesters and policemen injured.

At the same time, Robredo asked the national government to intervene and provide the necessary assistance to the farmers and their families who have lost their livelihood due to severe drought in the province.

The opposition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) said government officials “have blood in their hands” as their inaction on the farmers’ plight may have triggered Friday’s violence.

“The pain inflicted on our farmers and the many poor Filipino families suffering daily from poverty, hunger and government neglect should end,” UNA spokesman Mon Ilagan said.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte appealed for calm and sobriety as he promised to help gather rice donations for the affected farmers. – With Janvic Mateo, Robertzon Ramirez, Edith Regalado, Rhodina Villanueva, John Unson, Marvin Sy, Mike Frialde, Eva Visperas, Evelyn Macairan, Celso Amo