The National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) announced to the media through Secretary General Atty. Edre Olalia that the Municipal Trial Court of Kidapawan has already released the farmers detained for the violent dispersal last April 1. Although the detained farmers were already released, two of the said farmers remained in detention.
NUPL revealed that the two farmers who remained inside the detention center were Ruben Carlos Mangga and Ponciano dela Pena Paunil. Although the two farmers remained under the custody of the authorities, the NUPL stated that they are working for their immediate release.
According to the recordsof the NUPL, a total of 79 individuals have been detained and charged with direct assault, one of the accused bailed out much earlier while the processing and release of the 76 detainees took up to 2:00 A.M. Saturday.
The NUPL has been representing the farmers in collaboration with the Union of Peoples’ Lawyers in Mindanao (UPLM), Public Interest Law Center (PILC), local members from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) and Public Attorneys Office (PAO).
Hearing on motion for reconsideration of denial of motion to quash is set on Apr 25, while the pre-trial of 3 accused in frustrated homicide is set on May 4.
