Hicap's camp to sue Tarlac police over 'illegal' arrest

MANILA, Philippines - The camp of Anakpawis partylist Rep. Fernando Hicap on Friday said they will file charges against policemen who arrested and detained the lawmaker and 10 other members of a fact-finding mission in Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac City early this week.

Lawyer Jobert Pahilga, legal counsel of the partylist congressman, said they will file charges of illegal arrest, arbitrary detention and violation of the parliamentary immunity clause against Tarlac police chief Manuel Rasalan and two other police officers.

Pahilga said he will also file a motion for the cases against Hicap's companions be reverted from the Metropolitan Trial Court in Tarlac to the prosecutors' office for preliminary investigation.

"Mag-file din tayo ng perjury sa Tadeco (Tarlac Development Corp.) for claiming the land," Pahilga added.

The lawyer maintained that the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform law does not allow a tambiolo or raffle system in the distribution of the lots in the vast sugarholdings.

"Kahit kaunti yung lupang ipapamahagi , hindi dapat nira-raffle...ayaw nilang i-cover yung mga lupang pang agrikultura," he said.

Hicap and members of various people's organizations conducted a two day fact-finding mission to look into the alleged anomalies in the distribution of land inside Luisita, owned by the family of President Benigno Aquino III.

"Nandun kami para i-probe yung mga anomalya sa pamamahagi ng lupa at yung mga reklamo ng mga magsasaka dun," Hicap told reporters.

Hicap recalled that they were about to leave the Philippine Army detachment in Barangay Balete when they were approached by police officers.

Members of the fact-finding mission who were arrested said they were not immediately informed on what charges were filed against them by the police.