Bro. Manny De Leon, president of the Notre Dame of Kidapawan College during the interview with the members of the media in Kidapawan City on Tuesday, April 5. On his right is North Cotabato Deputy Provincial Director for administration Police Supt. Noel Kinazo. (Zea Io Ming C. Capistrano/davaotoday.com)
KIDAPAWAN CITY – Around 4:00 pm on Tuesday, April 5 troops outside the Spottswood Methodist Center withdrew and left the protesting farmers and progressive groups which sought refuge at the Church compound after a bloody dispersal last week.
Bro. Manny de Leon, president of the Notre Dame of Kidapawan College said there was an assurance from City Mayor Joseph Evangelista and Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza that there will be a pull out of the police and the soldiers from the area.
“There will be free access in and out, no search
ing, no anything,” he said.
North Cotabato Deputy Provincial Director for administration Police Supt. Noel Kinazo, said that the initial instructions for them is to leave a team of police troops to assist with the flow of traffic.
Kinazo said the protesters also pledged that they will not block the main road if they will have protest actions.
Mediation
De Leon, together with Monsignor Lito Garcia, administrator of the Diocese of Kidapawan, mediated between the local government unit and the protesters.
De Leon told Davao Today that on Monday afternoon, April 2, he facilitated the sisters from the Sisters Association of Mindanao (Samin) to be allowed to enter the Spottswood compound.
“I entered the compound, observed around and heard the issues (of the protesters). But before that I also talked with the police officials about their sentiments, and I thought that maybe I could help,” said De Leon.
He said he contacted Garcia to help him too.
De Leon said he talked with the leaders of the protesters on Tuesday morning who told him about their requests to the local government and the police officials.
During the said negotiation, United Methodist Church Bishop Ciriaco Francisco, raised his concern over the presence of military troops 50 meters away from where he stays on the backyard inside the UMC compound.
Francisco demanded for the immediate pull out of government troops surrounding the church.
“This is not a good, it seems like the city government is threatening us, like harassment,” the bishop said.
Gabriela Women’s Partylist Rep. Emmie De Jesus said their demands include: (1) removal of police post in front, (2) allowing the entry of farmers from Makilala, and (3) pullout military troops who were staying inside the compound.
“Kailangan nang tugunan ng provincial government ang kahilingan ng magsasaka dahil pagod na sila at pagod na rin ang mga kapulisan (the provincial government needs to address the demands of these farmers for they and the police are already tired),” she added.(davaotoday.com)
