By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has entered the ongoing probe into the massacre of nine farmers in Sagay City, which took place last year.
Assistant DOJ State Prosecutor Ferdinand Fernandez said they will be conducting a preliminary investigation hearing regarding the case, along with sending a team to Negros Occidental next month in order to conduct their own investigation.
Fernandez added, those identified as respondents to the case will be required to attend the hearings.
Among the respondents identified in the case include National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW) members Rene Manlangit and Rogelio Arquillo.
Last November, nine NFSW farmers were murdered by unidentified armed men at Sagay City’s Hacienda Nene in Barangay Bulanon.
The NFSW claimed private armed groups were behind the murders, while both the Philippine Army and Philippine National Police pointed blame at NFSW and the New People’s Army./DGB, WDJ