Kidapawan City (CNN Philippines) – Despite being released on bail days ago, majority of protesters from the violent dispersal in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato on April 1 have not gone home yet.
As of Tuesday morning (April 19), more than 60 farmers are still staying inside the Social Action Organic Farm Center (SAOFAC), a facility owned by the Diocese of Kidapawan in Bgy. Balindog.
This alarmed Public Attorneys’ Office (PAO) Chief Persida Acosta who visited Kidapawan and checked on the protesters’ plight on Monday (April 18).
Acosta offered cash assistance, rice and free ride if the farmers wanted to go home but majority decided to stay inside the Catholic Church-owned compound.
“Huwag po kayong matakot dahil ibibilin namin kayo sa mga barangay chairman niyo,” Acosta assured the crowd.
[Translation: “Don’t worry because we will endorse you to your village chairmen.”]
Related: Kidapawan protesters face criminal complaints
Employees from Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCCs) also came to give each farmer a copy of their release order and explained to them that they are already free to go home if they want.
Acosta gave each of the five farmers who agreed to return to their homes cash assistance and a sack of rice.
They were brought to the Arakan parish, and from there they are expected to go home also on Tuesday.
The protesters were arrested by the police after they were violently dispersed on April 1 for blocking the Davao-Cotabato Highway, leaving three people dead and dozens wounded.
Also read: Timeline: Kidapawan violence
Food shortage, lack of security plague farmers
Some farmers who refused to face the camera for an interview revealed that they do not want to go home yet because they do not have food to eat and they fear for their security.
Drought continues to devastate agricultural crops in North Cotabato, leaving farmers with nothing to eat.
Some residents in Sitio Kamarag Barangay Malibatuan in Arakan were forced to eat banana, wild yam and exotic animals such as bats and rats.
But even these kinds of food have been scarce.
The farmers have been calling on the government for assistance after their crops were destroyed by the drought, thus the series of protest actions.
Also read: PH gov’t under fire over violent Kidapawan dispersal
Meanwhile, the family of slain protester Darwin Sulang had already left their home after they observed some unknown persons, whom they believed are members of the military’s intelligence community, near their house at night.
Another accused, Bryan Icnad of Sagkungan, President Roxas, also complained that unknown persons frequently visit their house at night.
Defense lawyer Atty. Dionisio Alave said he also wanted the farmers to return home but cannot do anything if they refrain from doing so.
Alave, who is also the president of Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) North Cotabato chapter, appealed for the farmers’ psycho-social treatment to be postponed for at least two days so farmers can go home.
Rally organizers deny stopping protesters from coming home
Reports earlier said organizers of the rally are preventing the protesters, majority of them farmers, from going home.
Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP-North Cotabato) Spokesperson Lito Roxas denied the allegations.
“Anytime na pwede sila umuwi, meron talaga silang escape… Nanawagan pa nga kami na kung gusto nila umuwi, andyan naman si Atty. Acosta na pwedeng sumama,” Roxas said.
[Translation: “They can go home anytime, they really have an escape. We even announced that if they want to go home, Atty. Acosta is there to accompany them.”]
But Roxas said most of the farmers decided to stay in the center while waiting for their court hearing on April 25.
He added that immediate family members of the accused farmers are also free to visit and join them inside the center.
The KMP North Cotabato still has no idea what is going to happen to farmers after the court hearing.
Roxas said they still have to discuss the matter with other support groups.
