NBI to probe link between lawyer’s death, Sagay massacre

“(I) will direct the NBI to include if there are any indications that the incident is related to the previous killings,” Guevarra told reporters Wednesday. (File Photo By mark pedron, CC BY-SA 3.0)

MANILA — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is set to determine whether Tuesday’s murder of lawyer Benjamin Ramos is related to the October 20 massacre of nine sugar farmers in Sagay City, Negros Occidental.

“(I) will direct the NBI to include if there are any indications that the incident is related to the previous killings,” Guevarra told reporters Wednesday.

Ramos, 56, a founding member of the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL), was shot dead in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental in a 10:30 p.m. attack by motorcycle-riding men along Rojas St., Barangay 5, about 3 km. away from a police station.

The victim, a resident of Baranggay Binicuil in the same city, was brought to the Holy Mother of Mercy Kabankalan City Hospital after suffering from three gunshot wounds at the right back side and upper left portion of his chest but was declared dead on arrival by Dr. Ruffa Vicete.

Police Regional Office 6 (Western Visayas) director, Chief Supt. John C. Bulalacao, condemned the attack.

“We assure the family of the victim of a thorough investigation to ensure the immediate arrest of the perpetrators so that justice will be served to the victim and his family. We will provide an update once investigation has been completed,” Bulalacao said in a statement.

The NUPL confirmed that Ramos was part of a team that they sent to assist the victims of the Oct. 20 Sagay incident.

The murder of the nine farmers occurred in a farm at Hacienda Nene, Purok Firetree, Barangay Bulanon, Sagay City.

The farm, owned by a certain Carmen Tolentino, was occupied by alleged members of the National Federation of Sugar Workers on the morning of Oct. 20, a day after Tolentino harvested the sugar canes.

Witnesses claimed that the victims were resting inside their improvised tents when they were allegedly fired upon by more or less 40 unidentified armed men.

Some of the farmers escaped but nine died in the attack, with three of the victims allegedly burned by their assailants.