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Guevarra tells NBI to conduct deeper probe of Sagay massacre

Guevarra tells NBI to conduct deeper probe of Sagay massacre

By AJ Siytangco

By Jeffrey Damicog Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra has directed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to dig deeper in its investigation of the October 20 massacre of nine farm workers in Sagay City, Negros Occidental. Guevarra gave the directive after having received a progress report of the NBI's investigation over the killings.

Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra (TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra
(TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) “The NBI has submitted a progress report. I directed them to investigate more deeply,” he told reporters Thursday but he did not provide any more details about the report submitted by the NBI. Last Oct. 23, Guevarra ordered the NBI to investigate the incident and “to file the appropriate complaint as the evidence may warrant against the perpetrators of the crime.” The nine victims were killed inside the 75-hectare sugar plantation in Hacienda Nene in Sagay City, Negros Occidental. Initial reports said that around 40 men arrived and started firing at the victims who were in the makeshift tents. The nine victims were identified as Eglicerio Villegas, 36, Morena Mendoza, Marchtel Sumicad, 17 and Angelipe Arsenal of Brgy. Bulanon; an alias Pater, Dodong Laurencio, Neknek Dumaguit, Bingbing Bantigue of Brgy Plaridel; and Joemarie Ughayon Jr., 17 of Barangay Rafaela Barrera. Three of them--Mendoza, Dumaguit and Bingbing Bantigue—were even burned by the suspects. The nine victims were among a group of farm workers who entered the hacienda Saturday morning and were members of the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW).

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