Department of Justice. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
Relatives of a farmer killed during a violent protest and聽dispersal in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato last April filed a criminal case before the Department of Justice (DOJ)聽on Tuesday against the military witness who tagged the victim as a member of New People鈥檚 Army (NPA).
Ebao Sulang, father of slain farmer Darwin Sulang, filed a complaint for perjury against Charlie聽Pasco, who testified against the victim before the Senate committee on聽justice and human rights last April.
Pasco,聽a self-confessed rebel and military asset, claimed that he knew聽Darwin because they were members of the NPA. He also聽testified under oath that the farmer was carrying a gun during the聽dispersal.
In his complaint filed with the assistance of the National Union of聽People鈥檚 Lawyers, Ebao said that Pasco lied under oath.
Ebao said there were no supporting documents to back up his claim.
Aside from the complaint, Ebao has provided statements of witnesses saying his son was聽unarmed during the violent dispersal and was never a member of the聽NPA.
He added that Darwin鈥檚 death was witnessed by fellow farmer聽Lumeriano Agustin.
Last April 1, over 6,000 subsistence farmers and indigenous Lumads聽from different parts of Southern Philippines blocked the Kidapawan聽highway in protest against the government鈥檚 lack of assistance to farmers.
READ: 6,000 North Cotabato farmers block highway, demand food, farm aid; cops blame activists
For three months, farmers had been asking for food support due to a severe drought.
Police opened fire on the protesters, killing two and injuring over 30 farmers. RAM/rga
READ: Cops, farmers clash in Kidapawan; 2 dead