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
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‘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
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NewsTranscript
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.