DAR forms special task force to probe deadly Sagay shooting

Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones has ordered the creation of a special task force that would probe the shooting incident in Sagay, Negros Occidental, which claimed the lives of nine sugarcane farmers.

“I have created a special task force to look into the matter so that we will be able to get to the bottom of this," Castriciones said in a press conference on Monday.

“Likewise, I have coordinated the matter with Director [General Oscar] Albayalde of the Philippine National Police and we had our conversation regarding this matter," he added.

The task force will be comprised of DAR officials as well as implementing agencies of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

Initial investigation showed that 40 armed men shot and killed members of the Negros Federation of Sugar Workers (NSFW) as they rested at the Hacienda Nene in Purok Firetree.

The workers allegedly occupied an agricultural farm at Hacienda Nene a day after the owner of the farm harvested sugar cane.

Three of the victims were supposedly put on fire by the perpetrators of the crime.  —KBK, GMA News