Senate to hold hearing on Kidapawan rally

MANILA, Philippines – The Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights scheduled a public hearing on April 7 in the light of the Kidapawan City rally that led to a bloody confrontation and shooting of protesting farmers.

The Senate panel headed by Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III announced that the hearing will be held at the University of Southeastern Philippines in Davao City since it is the nearest place to the incident, citing consideration for injured farmers.

"We are holding the hearing in Davao City because it is one of the nearest places to the Kidapawan incident. Some of the invited resource speakers belong to the protesting farmers, who are too injured to travel all the way to Manila," Pimentel explained.

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, who confirmed his attendance to the public hearing, said the probe will be conducted so that parties involved will have the chance to shed light on the violent dispersal.

"In the Senate hearing, we will listen to all parties present. But most importantly, we hope to get to the bottom of this issue and render justice to all the victims of this unnecessary use of violence," Cayetano said.

Aside from the Senate committee, the Commission on Human Rights earlier conducted its own probe regarding the incident. The Palace said it is awaiting the results of the impartial investigation.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento also formed two fact-finding panels to investigate the circumstances behind the violent dispersal.

The first panel will focus on the operational aspect of dispersal while the second will focus on the local government units. These will be headed by National Police Commission (Napolcom) commissioner Job Mangente and Officer-in-charge of the bureau of Local Government Supervision Manuel Gotis, respectively.

The Kidapawan rally started on Wednesday when thousands of farmers started blocking stretches of the Cotabato-Davao Highway in Kidapawan City to ask for government action on the hunger plaguing their communities amid the ongoing drought. The protesters were dispersed Friday after their rally permit expired, leaving four people dead and more than a hundred injured.

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