Farmers Cleared of Assault Charges in 2016 Kidapawan City Protest

Strategic Insights -

Thousands of farmers in Cotabato province had been affected by a five-month drought, with many experiencing hunger and desperation. In April 2016, they took to the streets to demand government action, blocking a major highway and clashing with police. The protest turned violent, with police firing shots and protesters hurling stones. Two farmers were killed, and over a hundred were injured. The case has drawn significant attention, with a Senate hearing and an investigation by the Commission on Human Rights.

Key Takeaways:

  • 43 farmers were accused of assaulting police officers during the protest, but a local court has cleared them of the charges.
  • The court granted the demurrer to evidence filed by the farmers, dismissing the charges of direct assault upon an agent of a person in authority due to lack of evidence.
  • The prosecution failed to prove the identities of the persons responsible for the alleged acts, with witnesses testifying only to how the accused ended up arrested.
  • The court noted that the police's witnesses did not see who threw stones at them, but arrests were made nonetheless.
  • The protest in Kidapawan City involved thousands of farmers, with at least 5,000 joining the blockade in front of the National Food Authority office.
  • The incident prompted a Senate hearing and an investigation by the Commission on Human Rights, which found that both sides engaged in violence.

Statistics:

  • 43: Number of farmers accused of assaulting police officers
  • 2: Number of farmers killed in the incident
  • 100+: Number of farmers injured in the protest
  • 5,000: Estimated number of farmers who participated in the protest
  • April 1, 2016: Date of the protest
  • May 18, 2016: Date of the court ruling clearing the farmers of assault charges
  • 4th day of the protest: Date of the incident when shots were fired and stones hurled

Sources:

  • Kristine Joy Patag/Philstar.com