KIDAPAWAN CITY, North Cotabato – The Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front has indicted over the weekend former President Benigno Aquino and other officials in connection with the violent dispersal of a protest rally on April 1, 2015 which resulted in the death of two protesters and wounding of more than 30 others.
In a statement released to the media, Rubi del Mundo, NDF-Southern Mindanao Region spokesperson said Aquino, North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Mendoza, Kipawan city Mayor Joseph Evangelista and several local police and military commanders had conspired in ordering the violent dispersal of the protest rally by local farmers asking for rice subsidies from the government.
Del Mundo said their investigation found compelling evidence that the accused government officials violated the fundamental rights of the civilians guaranteed in international tenets, covenants and instruments such as the GRP-NDFP 1998 Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law among others.
Meantime, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella assured the protection of Aquino from the supposed arrest order.
“We only have one government and one justice system in the Philippines. Only the appropriate body can rule on the issue of the violent dispersal of farmers in Kidapawan,” said Abella. (Joseph Jubelag and Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)