MANILA — A party-list lawmaker on Tuesday called on the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to look into the killing of nine sugarcane workers in Sagay City, Negros Occidental last Saturday night.
Kabayan Rep. Ron Salo also urged the Department of Justice to apply the full force of the law and bring to justice all of the perpetrators of the attack.
“Maximum penalty against perpetrators. It is not an ordinary crime, and could not have been committed by just one person,” Salo said.
“The victims’ families have no one to cling on to except the government to bring the perpetrators to justice. Follow all leads. Government should offer protection and reward to all who give good leads,” he added.
A resolution seeking a congressional inquiry into the farmers’ slay has already been filed at the House of Representatives.
The Makabayan bloc earlier filed House Resolution 2262, directing the House committees on agrarian reform and human rights to conduct a joint inquiry into the shooting incident.
Reports said a group of armed men fired at the sugarcane farmers, killing nine of them, while they were resting in a makeshift tent at Hacienda Nene in Purok Firetree, Barangay Bulanon in Sagay City.
Malacañang condemned in the strongest possible terms the “dastardly act”, assuring the families of the victims that government will conduct a “thorough and impartial” investigation. (Filane Mikee Cervantes/PNA)
