Bishop hits police over arrest of partylist rep

MANILA, Philippines - An official of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines on Thursday condemned the arrest of a partylist legislator and nine others who conducted a fact-finding mission in Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac.

CBCP-National Secretariat for Social Action Justice and Peace chairman Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said there is nothing wrong in conducting the mission by the group of Anakpawis Rep. Fernando Hicap to ensure the transparent distribution of the lots to farmer beneficiaries.

"Layon din ng fact finding team na pinamumunuan ni Anakpawis Representative Fernando Hicap na matingnan kung ano ang  epekto ng tambiyolo at kung saan mapupunta ang mga beneficiaries. Bakit nila hinahadlangan itong mga ginagawa ng mamamayan na suriin kung tama ang ginagawa ng pamahalaan," Bishop Pabillo said.

The bishop said the government has until the end of September this year to distribute the vast sugar holding,owned by the family of President Benigno Aquino III, to over 6,000 farmer-beneficiaries.

Early this week, Hicap and nine other peasant leaders were arrested by the Tarlac City police for trespassing at the property.

Police also alleged that several posts in the area were destroyed by Hicap's group.

Several militant groups allied with Anakpawis have urged the Tarlac police to drop the charges against Hicap's group.  - Dennis Carcamo