4 Benguet farmers wrongly accused by cops now free

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — Four Benguet farmers wrongly accused by the police in the 1985 killing of four residents in Bakun town were set free last Wednesday after the court cleared them of the charges.

In his decision, Regional Trial Court Judge Benigno Galacgac said a "cautious evaluation" of the witnesses’ testimonies showed that none of them saw the killings or even committed the crime.

"The mind of the court cannot rest easy upon the certainty of guilt of the accused in the light of the evidence for the prosecution. The accused need not prove their innocence because it is presumed," Galacgac said in acquitting Malbecio Annot, 39; Leonardo Dolo, 73; Joel Annot, 37; and Liston Dolo.

Police arrested Malbecio Annot on Nov. 3, 1999, and Leonardo Dolo on Nov. 3, 1999, and Joel Annot two days later. Liston Dolo was nabbed only in July last year.

The four were accused of killing the four Bakun villagers along with members of the New People’s Army.

During the trial, they remained firm on their innocence, saying they were surprised to learn that the court issued arrest warrants against them in 1985.

They disputed police claim that they went into hiding, saying they continued tilling their farms in Bakun.

The Cordillera Indigenous People’s Law Center, a Baguio-based human rights institution which assisted the four farmers and their families, rejoiced over the acquittal.

The counsels of the accused included lawyers Willibroth Managtag, Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Benguet chapter president Jose Molintas, Francesca Claver, Maribel Corpuz-Uminga and Bonifacio Cruz.