BACOLOD City – The Department of Justice (DOJ) will send a probing team to conduct preliminary hearing in this city on the “Sagay 9” massacre.
“We might go to Bacolod City on the first week of July to hold a preliminary investigation,” said DOJ assistant state prosecutor Ferdinand Fernandez.
Last October 2018, nine farmers of the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW) were murdered by unidentified armed men holding a campout in Hacienda Nene, Barangay Bulanon, Sagay City.
The victims were allegedly enticed to join the NFSW and were manipulated by the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army.
Among the respondents identified in the case were Rene Manlangit and Rogelio Arquillo, both members of the NFSW.
Authorities have filed murder complaints against those suspected to be involved in the massacre, including Manlangit and Arquillo.
“We will give them the opportunity to face the accusations against them,” he stressed.
Fernandez said the identified respondents will be required to attend their hearings, since it will be conducted in Bacolod. (With a report from PNA/PN)
