BACOLOD City – “Love, hatagi ko hustisya.” (Love, give me justice.)
These were the last words of radioman Julius Barellano before dying in a shooting incident on June 27 in Barangay Rizal, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, according to National Federation of Sugarcane Workers (NFSW) chairman Danilo “Roki” Rillo.
Rillo said these words were directed to the 35-year-old radioman’s live-in partner (not wife as previously reported), whose identity was not revealed for her security.
Rillo said the NFSW conducted its own investigation into Barellano’s death.
Barellano, a radio correspondent of 101.5 FM Radyo Bandera Bacolod, is affiliated with the NFSW.
He is the leader of the Hacienda Medina Farm Workers Association in San Carlos City.
The live-in partner said two gunmen initially fired at Barellano, injuring the radioman on the thigh and legs.
Despite being injured, Barellano was able to run back to their house but was shot again several times, the live-in partner added.
That was when she begged for the gunmen to stop firing. The suspects then fled.
Christian Tuayon, chairman of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Negros and a close friend of Barellano, earlier said the motive in the shooting was likely related to a land conflict.
Tuayon said Barellano had been at the forefront of an ejection case involving about 140 tenants in Hacienda Medina against a landlord.
The live-in partner believes that Barellano’s death was related to the land conflict.
Rillo said Barellano had been offered money in exchange of dropping the ejection case.
When Barellano refused, threats followed, Rillo added.
On Saturday, over 500 members of NFSW, Bayan Negros and Hacienda Medina Farm Workers Association staged an indignation rally in San Carlos City to condemn the radioman’s death./PN
