PROGRESSIVE group leaders who were accused of direct assault and illegal assembly in line with their involvement in the bloody Kidapawan protest have started to have their sworn affidavits subscribed on Friday before the City Prosecution Office.
Bayan Southern Mindanao Region Spokesperson Hanimay Duazo in a media interview said that she was there to testify that the accusations are nothing but trumped up charges.
"I swore in my affidavit that they have wrongly included me in the fabricated, trumped up charges. This is for the fact that I was not there last April 1 incident in Kidapawan," Duazo said.
Duazo said that she brought along her witnesses to support her claim.
Duazo added that charged before the Regional Prosecutor's Office located at Alabel, Sarangani Province were 81 farmers and 16 support group members.
Duazo said the case filed by Colonel Alexander Tagum of the Philippine National Police is still in the prosecution level.
Former Gabriela Representative Luzviminda Ilagan also went to submit her own affidavit to support the counter-affidavit of Grace Noval, who was also among the accused.
Ilagan alleged that she was with Grace campaigning in Calinan during the time of the incident.
"Mao 'to nga nag-issue ko ug affidavit nga dili gyud pwedeng anaa siya didto sa Kidapawan at the time (That is why I really issued an affidavit that she is in Kidapawan at the same time)," Ilagan said.
Duazo added that they are set to file the counter affidavit to Alabel Sarangani soon.
Among the tagged progressive group leaders were Pedro Arnado, Norma Capuyan of Apo Sandawa Lumadnong Panaghiusa sa Cotabato (ASLPC), Jerry Alborme of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) North Cotabato, DodongBasilio of Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), Sandra Campos Karapatan Southern Mindanao Region (SMR), Mary Joy Mirasol of Promotion of Church Peoples' Response (PCPR), Bai Ali Indayla of Gabriela Mindanao/Ip Women's Group, Jong Monson of Pasaka, Kerlan Fanagel of Katribu, Grace Gamalinda/Grace Noval of Gabriela, Cora Espinosa of Samahan ng Maralitang Kababaihang Nagkakaisa (Samakana), Benjie Badal of Kadamay, and Joel Maglungsod and OpeHocir of KMP/KMU.
Three of the accused, Duazo, Fanagel, and Indayla, were also implicated in the recently dismissed case of kidnapping and serious illegal detention of United Church of Christ Haran evacuees, while Joel Maglungsod is now an Undersecretary.