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BFF-12
PHILIPPINE-WORKER-DEATH-CONDEMNATION
Philippine gov’t, police condemn killing of 9 farm workers
MANILA, Oct. 22, 2018 (BSS/XINHUA) – The Philippine government and police
have condemned the killing of nine sugarcane workers, including two minors,
in central Philippines, calling the bloodshed “dastardly” and “extremely
cruel.”
Oscar Albayalde, chief director-general of the Philippine National Police
(PNP), pledged on Monday a swift investigation to pin down suspects.
According to police investigators, unidentified armed men shot and killed
the nine workers at about 9:45 p.m. local time Saturday night as they rested
at the Hacienda Nene in Purok Firetree in Sagay City, Negros Occidental
province in central Philippines.
“The Presidential Palace is deeply perturbed to learn about the incident
and PNP has already been ordered to conduct a thorough and impartial
investigation on this dastardly act,” Presidential Spokesperson and Chief
Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said in a statement on Sunday
evening.
The workers allegedly occupied an agricultural farm in Hacienda Nene a day
after the owner of the farm harvested sugarcane. Three of the workers who
died were allegedly burned by the suspects.
The Sagay City Police Station said investigators were eyeing land conflict
as the motive of the incident.
“Families of the victims of this extremely cruel act can count on the
government that it will enforce the full wrath of the law against its
perpetrators,” said Panelo.
BSS/XINHUA/GMR/1033 hrs