Kabacan peace body backs probe on killing of 9 farmers

By John Andrew Tabugoc  

FOR AN IMPARTIAL PROBE. The Municipal Peace and Order Council (MPOC) of Kabacan, North Cotabato on Tuesday (Sept. 1, 2020) passes a resolution expressing support for the creation of an independent probe body on the killing of nine farmers in the area last August 29. The MPOC said an impartial investigation would clear all shrouded angles of the incident and would speed up the arrest of the perpetrators. (Photo courtesy of Kabacan MPOC)

KABACAN, North Cotabato – The Municipal Peace and Order Council (MPOC) here passed a resolution on Tuesday supporting the formation of an independent investigating body on the killing of nine farmers at a secluded portion of Barangay Poblacion over the weekend.

Mayor Herlo Guzman said the resolution intends to encourage the National Bureau of Investigation, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, and local police to proceed with their joint efforts to solve the controversial murder case soon.

On August 29, nine farmers on motorcycles were flagged down by their still unidentified assailants along a barangay road at the rear part of the University of Southern Mindanao here.

They were strafed with gunfire for no clear reason.

Eight of the farmers died on the spot, while the remaining victim died hours after being treated at a local hospital.

"The MPOC strongly condemns the incident that killed innocent lives, yet we are optimistic that this will be solved," Guzman said.

The North Cotabato provincial police office has already created a Special Investigation Task Group led by Col. Henry B. Villar, police provincial director, to look into the killing.

Kidapawan Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, leaders of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and the office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process have separately issued statements condemning the incident. (PNA)