DA EXTENDS ASSISTANCE
TO MASSACRE VICTIMS’ KIN
By Manny Piñol
Sagay City, Negros Occidental – Family members of the nine people killed in a massacre in a sugarcane plantation here today received financial and livelihood assistance from the Department of Agriculture.
Traveling with Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr., Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino and officials of the DA, I met this morning with the family members of the victims in the Sagay City where the remains are kept for a week-long vigil.
Among the victims was a 17-year-old Rover Scout who joined his father in the tent camp the victims set up in the middle of the cane farm.
They said they were convinced by a leader of a militant workers group, the National Federation of Sugar Workers, to occupy the property with the promise that they would be give a one-hectare share from the property when it is given up.
At about 8:30 p.m. of the same day they occupied the area on Oct. 20, armed men came and fired at them.
Some of the victims were brutalized while one woman was burned.
Sagay City Mayor Alfredo Marañon III who met us in Sagay City after a 2-hour drive from Bacolod City said the police are looking into all angles.
In my conversation with the family members of the victims, I emphasized that I only came to provide assistance on behalf of the Duterte Administration.
I said that the government under President Rody Duterte would like to see that justice is served and that whoever was behind the crime would be punished.
Joining the DA team were Agricultural Credit Policy Council Executive Director Joyce Badiola, Fisheries Director Nemia Aparri and Asst. Director Manny Ulanday.
(Photos by Mayette Tudlas)
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