The over 80 farmers from Tinang, Tarlac, who were arrested last week will seek for the dismissal of the malicious mischief and illegal assembly charges filed against them by the government.
"We were not given the copy of the complaint-affidavit. Clearly, our clients' right to due process was violated," said Atty. Jobert Pahilga, one of the lawyers representing the farmers, at a press conference on Monday.
Pahilga said none of the farmers, who were cultivating land under the state's agrarian reform program when arrested, was armed. Pahilga made the announcement a day after 47 of the 83 farmers, collectively known as "Tinang 83," were released on bail by Tarlac police. The total bail of all those arrested reached over P3 million.
"Binalagbag lang po kahit ang matatanda, inakusahan po kaming NPA . Wala rin pong pagkain mula sa mga pulis, wala pong ventilation kaya meron po kaming mga kasamahan na nakaranas ng pagkahilo at pagkahimatay sa selda," De Mesa said.