Bataan farmers face de Lima, Bello before court 'surrender'

The Manila Times

Bataan farmers face de Lima, Bello before court 'surrender'  ‘Criminalized’ Bataan farmers present themselves to former senator Leila de Lima and former party-list congressman Walden Bello ahead of their ‘surrender’ to a local court in the province during a press conference at the ‘Pandesal Forum’ Kamuning Bakery Cafe on Nov. 5, 2024 in Quezon City.  VIDEO BY ARLIE CALALO  Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe  Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net    Follow us:  Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook  Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram  Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter  DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion    Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital  Sign up to our newsletters: https://tmt.ph/newsletters   Check out our Podcasts:  Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify  Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts  Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic  Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer  Tune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein   #themanilatimes #tmtnews  #philippines  #delima

Transcript

00:00...rights on earth, and especially the right to live with dignity and respect for their human rights.

00:11I saw that when I was reading the case briefer that was sent to me and I heard earlier from their witnesses.

00:20It is clear to me as a lawyer and as a pro-human rights defender,

00:27that these cases are just so-called harassment suits to weaken your heart,

00:35to weaken your hope, to weaken the voice that you are fighting for,

00:45your rights, especially on earth.

00:48It is also clear in the series of legal developments how they were given a conversion order

00:59but they were not able to convert within the proper period.

01:07It should have been waived, it should have been converted back to the agrarian reform

01:17so that our farmers can benefit.

01:21I am also here to give my hope to you.

01:29I know that after this, when you come here, you will go to the streets to surrender yourselves

01:38to this process that has not yet passed.

01:44Do not lose hope.

01:50I did not lose hope.

01:54You know what my story is.

01:57You know what they did to me.

01:59They kept on doing more and more cases,

02:01even illegal drugs.

02:03Really, at least.

02:05But wow, it has been almost 7 years.

02:10I have been in jail for countless cases.

02:14The number of cases has been decreasing.

02:18Until it was dismissed.

02:22In June of this year, my case was dismissed.

02:25In November of last year, I was released.

02:28I was post-bailed just like the other two.

02:33Ultimately, our deferral to evidence was granted.

02:40There was not enough or credible evidence.

02:44But you know, when I read the case paper,

02:47there were a lot of cases that were filed against you.

02:51The most serious case was the syndicated estafa.

02:56Large-scale.

02:57But you cannot say that it was a serious case.

03:00No.

03:01Imagine.

03:02It was just P148,000.

03:04The value of the estafa.

03:11Some people are wrong.

03:13They are saying that you have a right to get money

03:19to distribute the drugs to them.

03:23That is not true.

03:24There is no accounting for that.

03:28It is not in your government to distribute the drugs.

03:32It is not in your government.

03:34So it is clear, as you told me,

03:37that the drug is for your expenses.

03:43Because you have a campaign

03:46to defend your rights to the drugs.

03:51That is why I am sad and angry

03:55when I hear such stories

04:00that are not accepted in criminalization.

04:03Another very good case of weaponization of law.

04:13Another example of the weaponization of law.

04:17The law is used to oppress.

04:20That is not right.

04:22The law is used to oppress.

04:26To harass.

04:27The law is used for justice.

04:32There is no justice in what they are doing.

04:37Especially in filing cases.

04:39Harassing.

04:40Going to your homes.

04:43Stealing.

04:45Directing others.

04:48The use of law is not right.

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