Marañon to militants: Produce minor-witness in Sagay massacre
NEGROS Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. dared the militant groups to produce the minor-survivor who turned witness in the killing of nine sugar workers in Barangay Bulanon in Sagay City on October 20.
“Why are they hiding the witness? He is a vital witness to the crime,” Marañon said yesterday.
The governor denied claims that there will be a cover-up in the ongoing investigation being conducted by the police.
“The National Bureau of Investigation and the Commission on Human Rights are conducting their own independent investigations,” Marañon pointed out.
He also said the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW) are violent because they kill the innocent sugar workers who are also their peers.
In response to the accusations of National Democratic Front-negros spokesman Ka Frank Fernandez linking him to the landlords who allegedly caused the said killings, the governor said: “We condemn violence whether done by the rebels or government. They should not insinuate.”
A complaint about alleged kidnapping was filed against lawyer Katherine Panguban of Karapatannegros on October 27.
The complainant was the father of the 14-yearold minor, who was among the eight witnesses.
The father has been looking for his son as he wanted to have his custody.
The father said his estranged wife and son are allegedly being kept in an undisclosed place in the province against his will.
The child was initially under the custody of Sagay City Police Station for
security reasons. He was then turned over to the City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) since he needed to undergo series of debriefing to cope with the traumatic incident on the killing of the nine farmers in Bulanon village on October 20.
The NFSW earlier said the minor-survivor was “illegally arrested,” an allegation that was denounced by Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo).
Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, for his part, said: “I don’t think it’s the character of the governor. I do not believe such implication that’s why it’s best to let justice rule and to find out who is truly behind this.”
“It is very important that they be heard so that justice will be given to the families of the victims,” Lacson added.*