ON HOLD. After having their breakfast, angry farmers formed barricade lines as police attempt to enter their barricade convincing individuals to go with them and be brought home to their respective communities. (Earl O. Condeza/davaotoday.com)
KIDAPAWAN CITY — A day before the violent dispersal of the farmers who put up a barricade along the national highway in Kidapawan City, tension arose between protesters and anti-riot police and provincial government personnel as the latter threatened protesters to be hosed down with water from their fire trucks.
As early as 1:00 am Thursday, March 31 police woke up protesters from their sleep with their loud sound system inviting protesters to go home as they brought with them dump trucks provided by the provincial government to ferry them.
Anti-riot police set up boundary rope as tension rises.
The forces of anti-riot police in the barricade in Kidapawan City include plainclothes men.
Despite the blaring sound convincing protesters to go home, protesters stand on their ground and refused to heed police call until their demands will be met.
Anti-riot police troops hold their ranks getting ready for possible collision between the two groups.
Amid the tension, a policemen tries to offer a pack snacks to some protesters.
But the protesters did not accept the offer of the policeman.
At noon time, Thursday, March 31 protesters set up their tent like camp to minimize the noon heat.
Late afternoon, support groups from Davao City arrive at the barricade and tell protesters that there are several groups outside the province who are in support of their issues. The photo shows Gabriela Women’s Partylist third nominee, Bai Ali Indayla giving her speech before the farmers.
Scores of farmers and police were injured after the violent dispersal on Friday morning.
A number of politicians also expressed condemnation on the incident. (davaotoday.com)
