TFK head to meet with PRO-6 director regarding the matter

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Vice Governor Eugenio Lacson urged San Carlos City police to immediately resolve the case involving last week’s murder of sugarcane workers’ group leader and radio personality Julius Broce Barellano.

He said, despite not being personally acquainted with the victim during his time as San Carlos City mayor, Barellano and his family deserve justice.

San Carlos City police have yet to conclude their investigation and are still looking into the possibility of a land conflict, personal grudge, or his position as a local radio reporter as motives.

Meanwhile, Task Force Kasanag (TFK) head John Chiong revealed he will be meeting with Police Regional Office-6 (PRO-6) director, Police Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao, regarding the incident.

The TFK official expressed sadness over the matter and vowed to help the victim’s family attain justice.

Barellano, a radio reporter for Radyo Bandera Sweet FM and leader of the Hacienda Medina Farm Workers Association, a local National Federation of Sugarcane Workers (NSFW) chapter, was inside his home with his aunt and wife and was about to leave when riding-in-tandem suspects opened fire.

The victim was killed on the spot after sustaining a total of nine bullet wounds across his body.

Christian Tuayon, chairperson for the Negros chapter of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), earlier condemned Barellano’s murder and backed claims by NSFW, who believe the motive behind the killing was a land dispute.

Bayan-Negros held a rally in San Carlos City over the weekend to protest the murder./DGB, WDJ