LIKE ANIMALS. Arlyn Aman, a farmer from Arakan Valley, North Cotabato province describes how the police dispersed their barricade in Kidapawan City. (Ace R. Morandante/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY — Arlyn Oti Aman, was among the thousands of farmers who went to Kidapawan City hoping they will get rice from the provincial government.
But Aman said they were treated “like dogs, like animals” as the police’s “clearing operation” turned out violent.
“Naga-syagit mi nga bugas dili bala, bugas dili pulis, bugas dili bumbero (We were shouting rice not bullets, rice not police, rice not fireman),” she describes how their rally went when she appeared before the public hearing of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights at the University of Southeastern Philippines Obrero campus on Thursday, April 7.
Aman was emotional in describing how the police authorities dispersed their ranks.“We went here to ask for food, but they looked upon us like dogs, like animals,” she said.
She told Senator Aquilino Pimentel III who heads that committee that she was telling the police that they were not rebels. Aman said she was told by police officers that those rallying are New People’s Army members .
“We are not NPAs, we are not communists. We are hungry,” she said, describing how she answered back the allegations of a police officer against her.
“Our children have nothing to eat. What will we give them when we can’t plant anything because of drought?” she said.
United Methodist Church Bishop Ciriaco Franciso was also present during the hearing. The Spottswood Methodist Center became the sanctuary of thousands of protesters. However, the provincial and local government saw that the church was “harboring illegal demonstrators”.
But Francisco said they were only helping them “out of our mission, out of compassion irregardless of religion, race, and political belief.” Francisco also lamented that even the Army was found inside their compound “taking pictures of those who comes in and out of my office.”
“Where can you find a scenario like that when our church workers are even asked to sign the police logbook before entering our church compound?” he said.
The first day of the Senate hearing was also attended by Senator Teofisto Guingona, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño Mendoza, police officials, farmers, and members of the progressive groups, among others.
Pimentel said another hearing will be scheduled in Manila, but no date was given. (davaotoday.com)
