Tuloy ang laban! 83 farmers and advocate group members have been released this Sunday, June 12 after being arrested without warrant for allegedly parataking in an illegal assembly and doing malicious mischief on a portion of disputed property for a “bungkalan” or cultivation work activity on land in Hacienda Tinang, Concepcion, Tarlac last Thursday, June 9.
Lawyer Jobert Pahilga of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers stated in an interview with Rappler that each detained person was initially to be bailed with the amount of ₱39,000 or ₱3.23 million for the whole group. But was reduced to ₱1.2 million, lowering each person to ₱13,500, plus a processing fee of ₱1,000 each.
AlterMidya posted a video on Twitter of the incident of how these farmers and advocates were maliciously arrested:
(CONTENT WARNING: Police violence)
— AlterMidya (@altermidya) June 9, 2022
Take a look at what happened to the farmers and advocates in Hacienda Tinang, Concepcion, Tarlac earlier today.
As of initial reports, 87 persons have been taken into police custody.
Watch the full video:https://t.co/LAupIVCGB6 pic.twitter.com/LpQnMODpDd
Last June 7, they also visited the Department of Agrarian Reform to uphold their decision and heed the 200-hectare land that belongs to them.
Agriculture is a vital part of our economic growth. How can these people have a proper livelihood if they cannot even have the proper land that they own? Farmers' rights still have a long way to go or will it even take effect if their abusers are the ones who should be protecting them?
Several netizens also expressed their disappointment with the incident on Twitter:
Kaya na paka halaga kung ang namumuno sa gobyerno ay nakaranas ng buhay ng nasa laylayan para alam nila kung ano ang gagawin hindi yung puro pahuli ng pahuli lang.
— Jessie (@jrms1010) June 9, 2022
Welcome to the Philippines.. madaling hulihin ang mhihirap, ang mayayaman na klarong my ksalanan ay ngiging untouchable..
— ms.kat (@cat_khat) June 10, 2022
Kung ganitong klase ang trato ng mga kapulisan sa mga nagrereklamo lalo na mga taong nasa mababa hindi ako magtataka na mawalan ng respeto at matutong lumaban ang mga yan.
— Je t'aime (@lhen2000) June 9, 2022
