MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has tagged communist rebels as suspects in the massacre in Sagay City, Negros Occidental on Oct. 20 that killed nine sacada workers.
In a speech in Cagayan de Oro City on Thursday, Duterte said that it is a habit of communist rebels to neutralize its fellows and later on blame the incident on the government.
“‘Yung style ng mga komunista, sila rin naman ang pumatay sa mga kasamahan nila. Pero sa atin pa rin isinisi ang pangyayari,” Duterte said.
Duterte made the remark after the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) blamed the Philippine Army, who were allegedly financed by big Negros landlords, for the murder of nine farmers, all members of National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW).
“Yung mga miyembro ng federation na binaril kasama ang mga bata sila yun nagdala ng recruit. Ibig sabihin, basta makakita lang sila ng bakante na lupa, okupasyon. Miyembro ng pederasyon yung mga napilit nila pero nagsabi ang grupo na huwag niyo kami isama. Hindi sila nagkaintindihan kaya ayun pinagbabaril nila. Sobrang kawawa,” he added.
Duterte was pertaining to a report by the Negros Occidental Regional Police Office that the killed farmers were recruited into the NFSW after being promised a share of Hacienda Nene in Barangay Bulanon in exchange for occupying the land.
Meanwhile, President Duterte has also called for an in-depth probe on the incident during the Executive Committee of the National Security Council (EC-NSC) held in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement that President Duterte has ordered the Department of Justice (DOJ) to pursue the proscription case against the CPP/NPA/NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army/National Democratic Front) as a terrorist organization.
“The President also directed that an in-depth investigation be undertaken anent the shooting incident in Sagay City which resulted in the deaths of nine farmers,” Panelo said.
“The President was unwavering with regard to the issue as a result of the communist group’s efforts in infiltrating and overthrowing the government,” the Palace spokesperson added./PN
