Police authorities in Negros Occidental are now conducting hot pursuit operations against the suspects in the killing of nine sugarcane workers in a farm in Sagay City on Saturday night.
Police Chief Supt. John Bulalacao, Regional Director of the PNP in Western Visayas, said on Sunday that a thorough investigation on the case is also underway.
“Sagay City Police Station and the Special Action Force is now on hot pursuit operation against the suspects while a thorough investigation is now being conducted to ensure the arrest of the perpetrators,” Bulalacao said in a statement.
Senior Supt. Rodolfo Castil, Negros Occidental police director, said that all nine victims were members of the National Federation of Sugarcane Workers.
Castil identified that victims as Eglicerio Villegas, 36; Jomarie Ughayon Jr., 17; Marchtel Sumicad, 17; Angelipe Arsenal, Dodong Laurencio, Morena Mendoza, Necnec Dumaguit, Bingbing Bantigue and one identified only as Pater, all from Sagay City.
Initial investigation showed that 40 unidentified armed men opened fire in a farm in Hacienda Nene in Barangay Bulanonò, Sagay City, Negros Occidental that led to the death of the nine workers.
READ: 9 sugarcane workers gunned down inside hacienda
Bulalacao said he already ordered authorities to use maximum resources to arrest the suspects.
He then expressed condolences to the bereaved families of the farm workers.
“We condemn the shooting incident that resulted in the multiple murder of nine farm workers in the agricultural farm,” Bulalacao said.
“We extend our sympathy to the victims and their families,” he added. /ee