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Lorenzana hits Bayan Muna chair Colmenares for linking military to Sagay massacre


The Department of National Defense (DND) on Monday rebutted Bayan Muna chairman Neri Colmenares' allegation that the administration and the state security forces should be held responsible for the massacre of nine farmers in Sagay City, Negros Occidental.

"By blaming government forces right off the bat, Mr. Colmenares shows us how desperate he and his comrades are in trying to discredit President Duterte’s administration and gain public attention," Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in a statement.

Colmenares previously said that the military had earlier alleged that the land cultivation areas (LCAs) being maintained by the agricultural sugar workers and farmers in Negros were communal farms of the New People's Army (NPA).

Lorenzana noted that Colmenares, as a lawyer, should have known very well that it is wrong and unfair to make allegations without any evidence.

He added that while there is an ongoing investigation on the incident, unnecessary statements shall be avoided.

"There is a proper time and venue for the examination and evaluation of evidences, and throwing out allegations at this point is irresponsible and highly suspect," Lorenzana said.

The defense secretary further said that Colmenares should not take advantage of the situation to advance his political interests.

"We urge Mr. Colmenares not to use this tragedy as a springboard to campaign for his party list group. It is a cheap and indecent trick to burnish his image as a party list nominee at the expense of the farmers’ death," he said.

According to Police Superintendent Joem Malong, spokesperson of the Western Visayas regional police, the victims were members of the Negros Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW). —Dona Magsino/NB, GMA News

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