Villar: They should not be encouraged to do that, it’s dangerous

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Senator Cynthia Villar recently expressed opposition to National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW) “cultivation activities,” noting, the events that took place last week in Barangay Bulanon, Sagay City, which left nine NFSW farmers dead, are still unclear.

“There are different stories, some say [NFSW] went to land that was owned privately and were trying to take over,” said the senator, who was in Negros Occidental over the weekend. “Some say it was the private guards who did it, while others accused the government–their statements are very conflicting.”

Villar also said she does not understand why they would enter private property and discouraged NFSW and other farmer groups from pursuing similar actions.

“That’s dangerous, they shouldn’t be encouraged to do that,” she stated.

Meanwhile, Villar said if the Senate were to conduct a separate inquiry into the matter, it would fall under the Senate Committee on Public Order, which is chaired by embattled Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

She added, in order to conduct a further investigation, NFSW would need to file a complaint directly with the said committee./DGB, WDJ