A protester throws a bag of paint at the photos of then President Aquino and then Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala during a rally at the DA office in Quezon City, April 2016. The demonstrators condemned the violent dispersal of Kidapawan farmers and criticized the government’s inaction in addressing their needs. Manny Palmero, ABS-CBN News

MANILA - The communist National Democratic Front (NDF) on Saturday accused former President Benigno Aquino III of human rights violations during the bloody dispersal of protesting farmers in North Cotabato.

The NDF also sought Aquino's "arrest" and trial before a "people's court."

On April 1 last year, farmers in Kidapawan were protesting the lack of government assistance amid the harsh El Niño weather phenomenon when authorities ordered their dispersal. Two farmers were killed while scores of protesters and police officers were injured in the incident.

The NDF-Southern Mindanao claimed Aquino committed "war crimes, crimes against humanity and other serious violations of international human rights law" over the violent dispersal.

Also tagged in the allegations were North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza, Kidapawan City Mayor Joseph Evangelista, North Cotabato Representative Nancy Catamco, and other military and police officials.

The group said it has "prescribed the arrest of said respondents," and the respondents "be meted out with appropriate penalties" after due trial by a "People’s Court."

The police Civil Security Group declined to immediately confirm if additional security personnel will be provided to Aquino following NDF's announcement. ABS-CBN News was still trying to reach the Presidential Security Group for comment as of this posting.