Is this for real?
It was earlier reported that North Cotabato Governor Emmylou “Lala” Taliño Mendoza had blocked food donations to the farmers who had staged a protest in Kidapawan City.
Mendoza was said to have slammed the camp of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte for attempting to donate rice to the farmers.
She had accused them of using North Cotabato as a “staging area” for their campaign, as Duterte is running for President.
Mendoza belongs to the Liberal Party (LP), which has Mar Roxas as its presidential bet.
READ: Did North Cotabato governor really block Duterte camp’s rice donation to farmers?
Farmers have remained in the area in the wake of the violent dispersal last Mar 30, which left three dead and about 116 injured.
The farmers are asking the local government provide them with food aid as their livelihood was affected by the El Niño phenomenon.
However, it seems that the food blockade is still in place. It seems to apply to all donations to the farmers.
“Movie stars Robin Padilla and Anne Curtis sent emergency aid to protesters encamped at Spottwood Methodist Center in Kidapawan City. But, outside the church compound, police blocked some 300 farmers from Makilala town from seeking a share of 400 sacks of rice donations from Padilla, Curtis, and other individuals and civic organizations,” reports Philippine Daily Inquirer.
The report noted: “In Manila, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) slammed the police and local authorities for blocking the delivery of food and other donations to the farmers.”
In a text message to the Inquirer, CHR Chair Jose Luis Martin “Chito” Gascon said, “All citizens should be free to receive help and support from other individuals or private and public institutions especially in the context of a crisis, albeit temporary.”
Gascon added that “the CHR was still gathering information on the deadly clash and urged anyone who has relevant information to come forward.”
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