DILG secretary, North Cotabato governor face raps over Kidapawan dispersal

Farmers who figured in the Kidapawan dispersal have filed complaints for murder, frustrated and attempted murder against high ranking national officials, North Cotabato local executives and 90 others in the government, police and the military.

Facing complaints filed by 22 farmers before the Ombudsman in Mindanao are Interior Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento, Philippine National Police chief Director General Ricardo Mendoza and North Cotabato Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza.

Aside from the murder, frustrated and attempted murder complaints, the officials are also facing raps for torture and physical injuries, illegal arrest and detention, and other civil and political violations.

Lawyer Edre Olalia said the elderly and pregnant women who were arrested and jailed, families of those who were shot during the dispersal, and other farmers who were arrested and detained were among the complainants.

Also charged before Office of the Ombudsman for Mindanao in Davao City were Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, Kidapawan Mayor Joseph Evangelista, 39th Infantry Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Arnold Argamosa, PNP Region 12 Director P/Supt Noel Armilla, PNP Acting Deputy Director For Operations (Region 12) Sr. Supt. Roberto Badian, North Cotabato Provincial Director P/SSupt. Alexander Tagum, Kidapawan Police Chief P/Insp. John Patrick Calinga, a certain Lt. Col. Birrey, Ground Commander of the PNP Strike Force, P/Dir. Isagani Nerez, Maj. Gen. Rafael Valencia, Commander 10th Infantry Division-Philippine Army; Col. Ronald Villanueva, 1002nd Brigade Commander (GSC), 10th Infantry Division, PA; Fire Senior Inspector Noa Pacalda; military agent Charlie Pasco aka “Longhair”; a certain Sgt. Obiano, SPO1 Boynel Lumogdang, P01 Solon, and P02 Baldua.

Olalia said other officials were included eventhough they were not physically present during the dispersal because of conspiracy.

"We believe they conspired. The act of one is the act of all. Kahit wala sila sa dispersal, the fact that this act was premeditated makes them liable," the lawyer told GMA News Online in a phone interview.

Olalia, of National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL), assisted the farmers in crafting the complaint together with Public Interest Law Center (PILC) and Union of Peoples' Lawyers in Mindanao. They also accompanied the farmers in filing the complaint.

Complainants also called for an investigation of officials who violated Republic Act 3019 for negligence and failure to place the proper measures that could have mitigated the effects of El Niño and possible misappropriation of calamity funds. —NB, GMA News