Security agency tagged in farmers’ slay

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines – A security agency identified with a politician and a police official was alleged to be behind the attack on farmers at Fort Magsaysay in Laur, Nueva Ecija on Saturday that left four dead and another wounded.

Joseph Canlas, president of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), citing witnesses, said the gunmen were employed by an official of Palayan City and a Nueva Ecija police official.

Canlas said the victims were resting after working on the field at around 2:30 p.m. when they were fired at.

 The fatalities were identified as Baby Mercado, Violeta Mercado, Eligio Barbado and Gaudencio Bagalay. Angelita Milan remained confined in a hospital in Cabanatuan City.

Canlas said the victims were among the farmers tilling a portion of the 3,100 hectares of Fort Magsaysay military reservation, which were awarded to them on Nov. 5, 1991 under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program. ??

The KMP called on the Department of Agrarian Reform and the human rights committee of both houses of Congress to investigate the incident.

“We challenge the Duterte government to give justice to the victims of the Fort Magsaysay carnage and hold the perpetrators accountable,” Canlas said.