MANILA, Philippines - A former partylist congressman on Wednesday called on Tarlac City police to immediately release Anakpawis Rep. Fernando Hicap and 10 others arrested yesterday during a fact finding mission in Hacienda Luisita, owned by the family of President Benigno Aquino III.
Anakpawis partylist president Rafael Mariano said authorities should drop charges against Hicap because the case is baseless and illegal.
"The Hacienda Luisita 11 did do not anything wrong. Finding the truth and upholding justice for landless farm workers is not and will never be crime against agrarian justice," Mariano said.
Initial reports reaching human rights group Karapatan and the national headquarters of Anakpawis in Quezon City showed that around 11:45 am last Tuesday Hicap and his team had just came from a dialogue with the Philippine Army at Brgy. Balete when policemen nabbed them.
Arrested along with Hicap were Danilo Ramos, spokesperson of Anakpawis party-list, Florida Sibayan, acting chairperson of Alyansa ng mga Manggagawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita, lawyer-nun and Australian missionary Sr. Patricia Fox, artists Ericson Acosta and Kerima Acosta, Hicap’s driver Rene Blazan, Hicap’s staff at the House of Representatives Kala San Juan, para legal worker Ronald Matthew Gustillo, agrarian reform beneficiaries Luz Versola and Angelina Nunag.
Hicap and 10 other colleagues were detained inside the PNP Macabulos headquarters since Tuesday morning and as of press time, they Are now being brought to Tarlac City Regional Trial Court .
Hicap's group are now facing illegal assembly, trespass on dwelling, malicious mischief and assault to people in authority charges.