The mother of a 14-year old witness in the killing of nine farmers in Sagay, Negros Occidental last Oct. 20 filed a case against policemen and the father of her son for alleged threats at the Justice department.
The complainant, who was assisted by lawyers from the National Union of People’s Lawyers, accused respondent Vic Pedaso for violation of Republic Act 9262 or Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act.
The mother, whose name was withheld due to confidentiality under the law, also filed charges of child abuse under Republic Act 7610 or Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act against Sagay City police head Chief Inspector Robert Manqueto, Senior Police Officer 1 Julie Ann Diaz and Police Officer Christine Magpusaw.
“Complainant and her son have experienced threats from respondents, including the filing of trumped up charges in Sagay City against one of the complainant’s counsels. Thus, they sought refuge in Manila,” the complaint stated.
Last month, Pedaso filed charges of kidnapping against human rights group Karapatan over their alleged detention of his son, alias Lester, who reportedly witnessed the Sagay massacre. He specifically named NUPL lawyer Katherine Panguban as the one who kidnapped his son.
The Philippine National Police has supported Pedaso’s charges against the militant group. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra earlier tapped the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct parallel investigation on the Sagay massacre.
The farmers were reportedly killed inside the sugar farm at around 9:45 p.m. last October 20, a day after the farm owner harvested sugar cane.
The nine farmers, including four women and two minors, were resting when 40 armed men attacked their group.
Lawyer Benjamin Ramos, head of NUPL in the province who assisted the National Federation of Sugar Workers following the killing of their nine members in Hacienda Nene, was ambushed and killed last Nov. 6.
