The communist National Democratic Front (NDF) on Sat (Apr 1, 2017) accused former President Benigno Aquino III of human rights violations during the bloody dispersal of protesting farmers in North Cotabato.
The NDF also sought Aquino’s “arrest” and trial before a “people’s court.”
On April 1 last year, farmers in Kidapawan were protesting the lack of government assistance amid the harsh El Niño weather phenomenon when authorities ordered their dispersal. Two farmers were killedwhile scores of protesters and police officers were injured in the incident.
The NDF-Southern Mindanao claimed Aquino committed “war crimes, crimes against humanity and other serious violations of international human rights law” over the violent dispersal.
Also tagged in the allegations were North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza, Kidapawan City Mayor Joseph Evangelista, North Cotabato Representative Nancy Catamco, and other military and police officials.
The group said it has “prescribed the arrest of said respondents,” and the respondents “be meted out with appropriate penalties” after due trial by a “People’s Court.”
The police Civil Security Group declined to immediately confirm if additional security personnel will be provided to Aquino following NDF’s announcement. ABS-CBN News was still trying to reach the Presidential Security Group for comment as of this posting.
This story first appeared on ABS-CBN News Online and republished with permission.
