WATCH: Enrile asks if Aquino knew about Kidapawan farmers' plea for food

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile questioned representatives from the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday if Malacañang knew about the farmers' demand for 15,000 sacks of rice prior to the violent Kidapawan dispersal.

 

"If Malacañang received this info what did they do? What is their reaction to this information?" the senator asked.

 

Enrile asked relieved North Cotabato police chief Senior Superintendent Alexander Tagum if he relayed the information to the regional director and Camp Crame.

 

Tagum said yes adding that the information was relayed on March 30, two days before the dispersal of at least 6,000 protesters that led to three deaths.

 

He, however, said he has no knowledge if President Benigno Aquino III knew about it.

 

Similarly, North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza said she relayed information about the situation to PNP chief Dir. Gen. Ricardo Marquez on March 30, when she was seated beside the latter onboard a plane.

 

She said that she told Marquez that there were "4,000 rallyists occupying, blocking the national highway."

 

Watch how information about the farmers' plea was relayed to higher officials.

 

WATCH: Enrile asks if Aquino knew about... by philstarnews

— Text by Levi A. So; Video Edited by Efigenio Toledo IV