THE Police Regional Office (PRO)-Western Visayas is looking into the possibility that the murder of human rights lawyer Benjamin Ramos Jr. may be due to his involvement in gambling, "land grabbing" farmers case, and grudge.
Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao, director of PRO-Western Visayas, said they have theories and possible angles being pursued and one of these was Ramos's profession as a lawyer.
"We have gathered information that Ramos also provides legal assistance and counsel for farmers involved in forced land occupation and land grabbing receiving alleged share. This infuriated the landlords and legitimate land beneficiaries," he said.
"Some may have identified to have personal grudges against him," Bulalacao said.
He said another angle that is being investigated on is the victim's involvement in gambling, as he is "deeply engaged in such vice." Bulalacao said such information, though, is still subject for validation.
"We need to get testimonies and have physical evidence to provide more detailed information about his death," Bulalacao said.
He said he cannot divulge material information so as not to jeopardize the ongoing investigation.
"Rest assured that the police [are] diligently doing [their] mandate to ensure that the perpetrators will be arrested in the soonest possible time," he added.
Bulalacao said they already have persons of interest in the killing of Ramos, secretary-general of National Union of Peoples' Lawyers (NUPL) in Negros Occidental. But he refused to elaborate on the identities of the said personalities as investigation is ongoing.
On November 6, Ramos was shot at close range by motorcycle-riding assailants in front of a store near the public plaza in Barangay 5, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental. He succumbed to three gunshot wounds.
READ: Human rights lawyer killed in Negros Occidental
Meanwhile, the Unyon ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura denied the statement of police, saying Ramos is not engaging in gambling nor asking payment for legal services to the poor farmers and workers he helped.
The leaders and members of the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW) in north Negros Occidental condemned the killing of Ramos.
"Amid our bereavement, and despite these vicious attacks against our ranks, the peasants of Negros are ever determined to continue the struggle for social justice. The relatives and survivors of the Sagay massacre and other Negros peasants who have become victims of the brutal repression carried out by the local government and the US-Duterte regime, have lost a fierce defender of their rights," the NFSW said in a statement.
The group said the death of Ramos will bring forth more allies and defenders of the peasants.
"Under the US-Duterte regime, the killings have become normal fare in the news, and Negros is not spared. The killing of Ramos is now included in the long list of extrajudicial killings in the country," the NFSW said.
It added that the struggling masses and their supporters have become easy targets of state agents, their various armed groups, and hired guns. "The perpetrators are allowed to run free and evade responsibility with impunity."
"The people of Negros shall continue the struggle for justice," NFSW said.