Farmers file human rights complaint vs. House Speaker

FARMERS belonging to different organizations on Monday filed a complaint against House Speaker Prospero Nograles at the office of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) for ordering on Friday the demolition of their camp site at the gates of the Batasan Complex and injuring 10 farmer activists in the process.

 Danilo Ramos, secretary general of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), Fernando Hicap, chair of the leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas, and Imelda Lacandazo, spokesperson of the Southern Tagalog peasant group Katipunan ng mga Samahang Magbubukid sa Timog Katagalugan (Kasama-TK), led the 10 injured farmer and fisherfolk activists in filing the complaints with the CHR.

During the dialogue with CHR Chairperson Leila de Lima, Ramos said the farmers and fisherfolk had been peacefully camping out in the Batasan Complex for 40 days with permission from Nograles. The farmers were demanding the immediate passage of the bill extending the life of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, or CARP.

But last Friday, the House speaker directed the demolition team to remove the protesters from their campsite and demolish their tents.

The farmers alleged that the members of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (SAF) hit them with their truncheons and shields while confiscating the streamers and flags of the farmers.

In the video presented to CHR, the farmers were shown being hosed down by the demolition team using water from a fire truck. As a result, ten farmers, including two minors, sustained injuries.

“Aside from they have sustained, the streamers, flags, frames and personal belongings of the farmers were also destroyed by the policemen, members of the SAF and the security guards,” the farmers said in the complaint.

Anakpawis party list Reps. Rafael Mariano and Joel Maglunsod also showed up to support the filing of human rights charges against Nograles. The two party-list lawmakers said the victims were their constituents.

For her part, De Lima said the CHR will send a letter to Nograles to know his side and the reason why he ordered the demolition.

She also ordered the CHR-National Capital Region to handle the case. –Ira Karen Apanay, Manila Times