TAGUM CITY — A peasant group on Friday scored the “insensitive and unsympathetic” remark of administration bet Manuel “Mar” Roxas over the brutal and bloody Kidapawan massacre.
“Roxas’ insensitive and unsympathetic comments are devoid of any condemnation towards the state-sponsored violence against farmers,” Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, secretary general Antonio Flores said in a statement Friday, April 1.
Liberal Party standard-bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas was quoted in a news report, saying: “Nakakabahala ang balitang nagkaroon ng gulo (The news of the violence is worrisome). The first task of the day is to restore order to area [sic]and make sure that no clash happens again. The wounded on either side should be tended to. I call on the PNP and other concerned agencies to investigate as to the true cause of the clash and, if warranted, punish those who may be accountable.”
For Flores, Roxas’ statement reveals his “haciendero roots” and can be construed as an insult to the plight of the poor farmers who were neglected by the government in the wake of intense drought brought upon by El Niño.
“His statement is a highly unacceptable April Fool’s Joke,” Flores said. “Not only did Roxas insulted the farmers and their just demands, he also maliciously implied that a battle happened between protesters and government forces, when in fact, it was a massacre committed by the police and military.”
The peasant group has strongly condemned the “Kidapawan Massacre” which claimed the lives of three farmers and wounded scores of barricading protesters.
“The Aquino government’s callousness and impunity is unacceptable and deserves massive condemnation from the public,” the group said.
For his part, KMP chairperson Rafael Mariano blamed the Aquino administration for the bloody massacre. “This violence against farmers and Lumad people will be the mark of (Pres. Aquino) administration. Farmers are demanding for food and land but the haciendero government responded with bullets.” (davaotoday.com)
