DISAPOINTED
Wife of slain human rights lawyer assails local police for far-fetched investigation
THE wife of the human rights lawyer Benjamin Ramos Jr., who was murdered in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental last week, was disappointed with the police’s investiga- tion on the case.
Clarissa Ramos, in an interview with Aksyon Radyo Bacolod, said while their family is angry after learning about the statement of Police Regional Office (Pro)-western Visayas that her husband’s death was probably due to gambling, grudge, or being a lawyer of the “land grabbing” farmers.
Earlier, Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao, director of Pro-western Visayas, said they have gathered information that Ramos provides legal assistance and counsel for farmers involved in the forced land occupation and land grabbing which infuriated the landlords and legitimate land beneficiaries.
Some may have identified to have personal grudges against him, he
added.
Another angle that is being investigated is his involvement in gambling as he is deeply engaged in such vice, but such raw information is still subject for validation.
“Disappointed ko sa action ka police kay ang ga gwa sa news based sa ila investigation isa ka pagpatalang (I am disappointed with the action of the police because what’s coming out in the news based on their investigation is a deception,” the wife said.
Ramos’s wife insisted that the allegations of the police are not true.
The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) has created a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) a day after the lawyer was gunned down by two unidentified motorcycle-riding assailants at Barangay 5 on November 6.
Clarissa said since the SITG has been created, she has yet to see the results of the group’s investigation, but police had already issued a statement.
“Indi masaligan ang police sa ila investigation (the police cannot be trusted with their investigation), she added.
Clarissa questioned why the police kept on issuing statements even if the investigation is not yet finished.
“They should show their credibility because it seems that their motive on this case is different,” she said.
She said she witnessed the recent surveillance of uniformed men before her husband died.
She also said her husband has been under intelligence monitoring since 2006.
Clarissa also challenged the local government of Kabankalan that if they are determined to resolve the case, they will join them in their fight to attain justice for the death of the lawyer.
Meanwhile, family and friends of the slain lawyer lighted candles and offered prayers at the crime scene and marched towards their house over the weekend.
The lawyer’s interment is scheduled on November 18 at Sipalay City.*