Manila: The palace has ordered a thorough investigation into the Saturday killing of nine sugar workers in Negros Occidental, while vowing to mete out the “full wrath of the law” against the perpetrators.
“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the reported deaths of sugar workers in Sagay City, Negros Occidental. The Palace is deeply perturbed to learn about the incident and the Philippine National Police (PNP) has already been ordered to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation on this dastardly act,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said.
President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to visit Negros Occidental on Monday afternoon.
On Saturday, nine people, among them three women and two minors, were shot and killed by armed men at a sugar cane farm in the village of Bulanon in Sagay City, in Central Philippines’ Negros Occidental.
The state-run Philippine News Agency (PNA), quoting provincial police, said the victims were members of the Federation of Sugarcane Workers (NFSW).
Hours before the killing took place, the plantation workers had forcibly taken over the farm in Hacienda Nene, which was owned by a certain businesswoman named Carmen Tolentino.
The circumstances of the forcible occupation were still unclear but the takeover of Hacienda Nene follow the takeover of government properties in certain parts of the country by left-wing urban poor groups such as the Kadamay.
The PNA report said that based on information provided by police, the killings took place around 9.30pm as the workers were resting inside their tents.
Panelo said that while the forcible occupation of the plantation is something for investigators to determine, the government said justice will be served for the victims.
“The Office of the President adheres to the principle that the right to life shall remain unthreatened by proprietary interests, and this extends to agrarian settings. Families of the victims of this extremely cruel act can count on the government that it will enforce the full wrath of the law against its perpetrators,” Panelo said.
Panelo added that based on initial information, the Communist Party of the Philippines-led armed group, the New Peoples’ Army, has something to do with the incident.
Local authorities have already put up a P500,000 (Dhs 34,005) cash reward for information that could lead to determining the identity of the suspects in the massacre.
Reports said Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., said the provincial government has put up a P250,000 (Dhs 17,002) bounty for the perpetrators while the governor’s son, Sagay City Mayor Alfredo Marano has similarly announced a P250,000 bounty.
