Wives of arrested farmers seek Governor Mendoza’s help

KIDAPAWAN CITY --Wives of farmers arrested during the rally dispersal here last week have sought help from Cotabato Governor Lala Mendoza to release their husbands from prison. Elenita Mangga, 45, wife of Ruben who was among the more than 70 people charged of direct assault, said her husband was just deceived by some of their leaders in the barangay into believing that they will receive at least three sacks of rice from the governor and the distribution will happen in Kidapawan City. Ma’am, have mercy.We have nothing here.If not only for the rice, my husband won’t go down there,” Elenita said. Elenita has five children to Ruben, former kagawad of Barangay Binoongan, Arakan. Chary Mae Maglahos, 22, wife of Marcelo, 35, said two residents from Kitao-tao, a town in Bukidnon, arrived in their barangay and asked villagers who are aged 15 and above to list their names so they could get bags of rice from the provincial government. Chary Mae told her husband to join the group because they wanted to eat rice. At first, my husband didn’t want to go there but I told him that we needed the rice so he joined the group.I didn’t expect he would be among those arrested,” said Chary Mae in her native dialect. Aside from Ruben Mangga and Marcelino Maglahos, also arrested and charged with direct assault were John Nixel Cesar, Majovie Buguat, Lolita Porras, Erlinda Badol, Ederlyn Daelto, Erly Badol, Elmer Badol, and Rex Insek, all residents of Barangay Binoongan, Arakan. Elenita and Chary Mae said they have not visited their husbands since last week because they don’t have money to pay for their fare. We have nothing to eat and we don’t have money to pay for our fares,” Elenita said. Arakan municipal mayor Rene Rubino said they can provide them vehicle and food to eat while visiting their loved ones in prison. He, however, cannot commit to provide them bail money for their husbands’ freedom. The mayor assured Elenita and Chary Mae he would bring their requests to the office of the governor. The local police filed charges of direct assault against Maghalos, Mangga, and more than 70 farmers at the Municipal Circuit Trial Court here on April 4. Each the accused needs at least P12 thousand as bail for their provisional liberty. sand//scontent.fmnl4-1.fna.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10649498_10207984408702327_3192377491878704406_n.jpg?_nc_eui=ARgkglaOrTB7z0vkZPKWY3N1Zj6HUBUesGsibfJrxo3G46WaQeIBSXYOIsnXandampoh=8a039115622b9ae4565b2747e9b06c21:ampoe=5779E4E0