|
Monday, March 10, 2003
La Carlota police sets free Benedicto guards
By Avelyn Z. Agudon
THE LA Carlota City police released Saturday the five security guards of the heirs of former Ambassador Roberto Benedicto who were reportedly involved in the shooting incident wherein a farmer beneficiary was killed and another injured in Hacienda Esperanza, La Carlota.
Senior Supt. Vicente Ponteras, provincial police director, said the guards employed by the Agrocom Security Agency were released at about 5 p.m., after 24 hours of detention as no charges have been filed against them.
“They could charge us of arbitrary detention if we fail to release them,” said Ponteras.
He added that they will file the charges, specifically for homicide and frustrated homicide against any of the guards who will yield positive in the paraffin test.
The security guards, identified as Marcelo de la Cruz, Henry Caspe, Eduardo Talam, Ramil Ramos and Freddie Mendadia, underwent paraffin testing last Friday together with nine members of the Nagasi Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative and two members of pro-management group belonging to the Workers Amalgamated Union (Waup).
The Nagasi farmer beneficiaries underwent the test after the pro-management group claimed it was them (Nagasi) who shot the victims.
The two Waup members, on the other hand, were also blamed by the Nagasi farmers who helped the security guards shoot the victims.
Killed was Junie Gaylan, 29, while injured was Conchita Sayco, 57.
Agrarian Reform Secretary Roberto Pagdanganan, who arrived Friday, had earlier said the law will be used to render justice to the victims.
Pagdanganan also ordered the warring groups of farmer beneficiaries to desist from tilling the controversial agricultural land while permanent solutions are being explored.
A platoon size of Army soldiers from the 11th Infantry Battalion and two teams of troopers from the Regional Mobile Group are now patrolling the 600 hectare Hda. Esperanza to preempt another incident between the warring farmer groups.
(March 10, 2003 issue)
Want Sun.Star news on your mobile phone? Click here.
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[ return
to top ]
[ home
]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
|
