Lawyer faces raps for taking custody of massacre witness

BACOLOD CITY , Philippines  —  A lawyer of human rights group Karapatan has been charged with kidnapping and serious illegal detention for allegedly taking custody of a witness in the massacre in Sagay, Negros Occidental.

The father of the 14-year-old witness filed the charges against Katherine Panguban, according to Chief Inspector Robert Mansueto, Sagay police chief.

The man sought police assistance on Oct. 30, claiming his son has  been missing since Oct. 27.

The mother of the witness was reportedly accompanied by lawyers and representatives of various militant groups when the boy was taken from the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Mansueto said the man received a call from his wife claiming they were under tight watch in the area where they were brought.

Panguban had earlier denied the allegations, saying the mother of the witness sought their assistance for the release of their son from government custody.

She added that the witness and his mother have raised fears about their safety and are now in Manila.

Panguban said the father of the witness had abandoned his family and was not aware of what happened.

Last week, the Sagay police filed multiple murder charges against two members of the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW) and seven John Does for the killing of nine farm workers in Barangay Bulanon.

The National Union of People’s Lawyers said the allegations against NFSW are “another desperate attempt of Sagay authorities to concoct another incredulous story.”