KIDAPAWAN CITY — Protesting farmers here declined the invitation of North Cotabato provincial governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza to hold the dialogue at the city hall on Wednesday night, March 30.
Pedro Arnado, spokesperson of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas in Southern Mindanao said that they were told to have the dialogue with Gov. Mendoza to settle their issue at the city hall at 8:30 pm, but they decided to reject the offer as they said they will only have the dialogue at the picket line.
Around 5,000 farmers protested along the Davao-Cotabato national highway starting 5:30 am on Wednesday, March 30 to demand from the provincial government to give them rice assistance as part of the calamity fund for those affected by El Niño in the province of North Cotabato.
The impasse between the negotiating parties of the provincial government, the police and the farmers were not resolved as the farmers decided to stand down from where they are holding the barricade until Mendoza negotiate with them.
In an earlier interview with Davao Today, Norma Capuyan, chairperson of the Apo-Sandawa Lumadnong Panaghiusa said that they are demanding for the release of 15,000 sacks of rice from the provincial government’s calamity fund intended for the farmers affected by El Niño.
Arnado added that the invitation is only for three leaders from the picket line.
“We were here all day, why is it (invitation to talk/dialogue) is only now,” he added.
Arnado also said that they were told by Provincial PNP director Senior Superintendent Alexander Tagum, that Gov. Mendoza will not show up at the barricade for she is afraid to be booed by the protesters.
The protesters demanded for the governor’s presence at the picket line for the dialogue on Thursday. (davaotoday.com)
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