Sagay massacre suspect seeks CHR's help

One of the suspects in the Sagay carnage that left nine farmers has sought assistance from the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

Speaking to media on Wednesday, Rene Manlangit expressed dismay over the police's filing of multiple murder charges against him and eight other people.

"Ako po si Rene Manlangit, pumunta po ako dito sa Manila para humingi ng tulong sa Commission on Human Rights sa nangyari doon sa Hacienda Nene dahil po kami po 'yung survivor, kami pa po 'yung pinagsampahan ng mga kaso," Manlangit said in his local language and translated by John Milton Lozande, secretary general of the Negros Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW).

"Kami po'y pina-a-allege ng mga militar at pulis na mga ano raw ng NPA (New People's Army) at saka kami po'y wala nang pagtitiwala sa mga pulis na nagko-conduct ng imbestigasyon sa nangyari.

"Imbes na 'yung mahuli nila ay mga kriminal, kami pa po ang kanilang pinagsasampahan ng kaso para po matakpan 'yung tunay na kriminal na may gawa ng massacre sa Hacienda Nene," he said.

For its part, the CHR said it would accept the statements of the victims because the body is also conducting its own investigation on the massacre.

"Malugod naming tinatanggap dito sa aming tanggapan ang mga biktima ng sunod-sunod na mga paglabag sa mga karapatang-pantao at sa batas," CHR chairperson Chito Gascon said.

"Tatanggapin po namin lahat ng reports at datos kaugnay dito upang magkaroon tayo ng malinaw na pagtingin sa naganap sa pagpaslang sa mga magsasaka," he added.

"Mahalaga na sa yugtong ito ay protektahan natin silang mga saksi," Gascon said, ever as he urged authorities to conduct an impartial and legitimate investigation into the massacre.

The NFSW puts the blame on "powerful landlords" in Negros in cahoots with the auxiliary military and police forces for the massacre last October 20.

In a statement, the NFSW  said that the lessee or "aryendador" —backed by landlords and auxiliary government troops —was responsible for the massacre.

Earlier, the military claimed that the massacre was part of an alleged communist plot to remove President Rodrigo Duterte from power. —LBG, GMA News