Six suspects in Quintos slays stage hunger strike

The six farmers who were charged with the murder of the two sons of Mindoro Representative Ricardo Quintos yesterday went on a hunger strike in the Quezon City Jail and demanded their immediate release.

According to the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) secretary-general Danilo Ramos, the farmers went on hunger strike to dramatize their claim that they were falsely accused of the crime.

Ramos said Manolito Matricio, Marion Tobias, Eddie Hermoso, Joshua Ungsod, Gelito Bautista, and Ruben Balaguer, should be released from prison because the New People’s Army (NPA) have already said they are responsible for the killing of Paul and Michael Quintos three years ago in Mamburao, Mindoro.

Ramos added that several agencies have already joined the farmers in their first day of hunger strike. Physicians from the Health Alliance for Democracy are reportedly constantly checking on the health of the suspects.

The farmers said that they will only be consuming water, sugar, and salt, until President Arroyo does something about their case. – Matthew Estabillo