CAUSE-oriented groups which conducted a fact-finding mission over the gruesome death of nine farmers a week ago in Sagay City, Negros Occidental, concluded that the killing was an outcome of the conflict and tension between farms and landed interests in Negros Island.
While questions were raised whether the victims were qualified beneficiaries of the government’s agrarian reform program, the group said, this is secondary.
“One cannot lose sight of the fact that whatever issues raised concerning the legality and validity of "bungkalan" did not justify the events of the shooting incident, the group said during a press conference on Friday, October 2.
On October 24, the fact finding mission team composed of the human rights group Karapatan, the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL), Gabriela Women’s Party Representative, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP); and the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW), conducted an independent investigation on the incident.
“Any dispute as to these victims rights to the land did not warrant their murders,” the group said.
On October 20, some 10 unidentified armed men fired at the nine farmers who were resting at a makeshift tent in Hacienda Nene, Barangay Bulanon past 9 p.m. Three of them were partially burned while four others, including a 14-year-old minor, and two alleged recruiters survived.
“It is a disservice to the memories of those slain if an investigation into their deaths does not take this fact into account, they said. “Who had the means and the motive to conspire, plan, and take part in any action against the farmers and ‘bungkalan?” the group said.
The group has put to task President Rodrigo Duterte to “pursue, prosecute, and bring the perpetrators and their masterminds to the bars of justice.”
“We call on Duterte to order the conduct of an impartial investigation free from the involvement of local police, agencies and public officials in Negros Island,” the group said.
Gabriela Partylist Representative Arlene Brosas, for her part, said they asked Chief Inspector Robert Mansueto, city police chief, to provide them a copy of the police report but the latter allegedly told them that the report is only 85 percent finished and that they need to seek clearance first for its release.
“I do not know who is he referring to ask for clearance. I even asked him to provide us with public documents but we have not received any of those documents regarding the murder case,” Brosas added.
Karapatan-Negros secretary general Clarizza Singson, meanwhile, said they welcome the intervention of other national law enforcement units particularly the Commission on Human Rights, and other independent organizations, and international bodies to investigate the killings.
"Indi puwede na kung sin-o na lang ila itudlo. Indi puwede na kadamo sang speculations (It is not right to make up the perpetrators. It is not right to make speculations). There's should be a thorough investigation of the case,” she added.
Earlier, the police are looking at three angles in the incident.
Authorities have also tagged the New People's Army (NPA) as perpetrators behind the killings, which was dismissed by the rebel group as a lie.
Police are also looking into the alleged "set-up" of two alleged recruiter-survivors who invited the slain farmers to the said village for a meeting on that day.
The custody of the minor-survivor was also questioned after the NFSW claimed that he was "illegally arrested," which the police denied, claiming that it was only for security reasons.
On October 25, the minor-survivor was turned over to his mother through the assistance of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and NUPL.
Progressive groups also linked the killings to private goons of landlords or even private armies.
Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. asked “kung landlord nagpatay, ngaa kadasig? (If the landlord was behind the killing, why did it happened so fast?).”
The governor said the local police have already investigated the incident, “they are still probing it for the immediate solution of the case.”
“Ang ila ya basta iya ka government, ila gub-on. Indi sila gusto mag tin-ad ang tawo (As long as it’s the government, they destroy it. They do not want the people to progress),” Marañon said.
Marañon dismissed the reports that he has a parcel of land at Bulanon village.
House probe
Meanwhile, members of the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives have filed a resolution urging the committees on Agrarian Reform and Human Rights to conduct a joint inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the murder case of the farmers.
Brosas said they wanted Congress to initiate an "impartial investigation" on the incident.
Brosas said the resolution was filed on October 21, a day after the nine victims were killed at Hacienda Nene in Bulanon village.
If the house inquiry pushes through, Brosas said they will be inviting Mansueto; Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Castil Jr., provincial director of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo); Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao, director of Police Regional Office (PRO)-6; the Sagay City Social Welfare and Development, and those involved in the investigation for the House probe.
“We want to conduct a thorough investigation on this case," she added.