Palace on Lumad arrests in Cebu City: Let cops investigate

By Prince Golez

Malacañang is letting the Philippine National Police investigate the recent arrest of Lumad students and teachers taking refuge at the Talamban campus of University of San Carlos (USC) in Cebu City.

On Thursday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque asked the public to let the probe take its course.

“This is a police investigation. Let them do their investigation. I understand meron na rin pong mga kaso naisampa ang mga kapulisan for illegal detention among others.” Roque said in his virtual presser.

“Hayaan na po natin umusad yung proseso ng imbestigasyon at yung proseso ng katarungan. Antayin na lang natin ang sasabihin ng mga hukom natin tungkol sa insidenteng ito.

“It’s a finding of fact po and a finding of law napakahirap magkumento dahil wala naman po tayong investigative powers,” he added.

Earlier, the Save Our Schools Network, a network of child rights advocates, organizations and various stakeholders advocating for children’s right to education, the so-called “rescue” of Lumad students was “pure harassment.”

USC president Fr. Narciso Cellan Jr. said the lockdown brought about by the coronavirus pandemic barred some Lumads from going home, thus, prompting the university to provide them shelter.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)