[ad_1]
Updated
By the Philippine News Agency
BACOLOD CITY – Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol talks with the victims of the massacre in Sagay City, Negros Occidental, on the subject of an impartial investigation on the killings on Friday.
(Photo courtesy of Manny Piñol / MANILA BULLETIN)
"I wanted to see for myself the families of the victims of the Sagay massacre. Some of them were farm workers. I put with them and extended financial assistance from the Department of Agriculture (DA). We also assured them of additional help, "he said.
He did not disclose the amount provided by the DA to the victims' families.
Piñol told the families he did not come to the judgment on the incident. "What I know is not enough. There are investigations going on by the proper agencies, "he added.
The DA said the government supports an impartial investigation and wants to be brought to justice.
In Sagay, Piñol was joined by Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. and Mayor Alfredo Marañon III during his visit to the victims' wake at the city's gymnasium.
He then proceeded to Bago City to inspect the province's rice processing complex before going back to Bacolod City where he held a press conference in the afternoon.
Last Tuesday, Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones also turned to financial assistance and mobile phone units to the victims' families after President Rodrigo Duterte's visit was canceled because of weather.
Meanwhile, in Bacolod before noon, the National Fact-Finding Mission led by the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers and Gabriela Women's Party also called for the conduct of the impartial investigation.
"We call on President Deterte to pursue, prosecute and bring the perpetrators and their masterminds to the bars of justice. Negros Island, "Negros Island, Negros Island, Negros Island, Negros Island."
Gabriela Women's Party Rep. Arlene Brosas said the Makabayan Block is a resolution of the House of Commons on the subject of agrarian reform and human rights.
In its report released to the Bacolod media, the National Fact-Finding Mission accused the local government of Sagay of "theatrics" in supposedly "deceiving the people to divert the investigation..far away from their bloodied hands."
The group also claimed the Marañons (Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. and his son, Sagay City Mayor Alfredo Marañon III) are "pretending to be empathetic to the grievance of the families" with the help of the local police and the military.
[ad_2]
Source link
