The police yesterday sought the cooperation of Task Force Mapalad in its investigation of the death of a farmer and the injury of two others in Hacienda Velez-Malaga in Brgy. Robles, La Castellana.

The appeal was made by Senior Inspector Placido Composa, La Castellana police chief, despite threats of legal action they had received from TFM for their alleged failure to prevent the two bloody incidents.

Composa said he will respect the decision of TFM, adding "We are ready to answer and face any legal action that they may file against us".

TFM president Rodito Angeles criticized the La Castellana police and 613rd Provincial Mobile Group troopers for their allegedly delayed response to the killing of TFM member Pepito Santillan Sr. A group of unidentified armed men shot dead Santillan Sr. on Thursday, almost 12 hours after his colleagues and security guards of Hacienda Velez-Malaga allegedly engaged in a gunbattle.

The firefight also caused injuries to TFM members Fernando Santillan and Rey Cortejo. On the hacienda management side, farm worker Renato Mata and chief security guard Enrique Maliksi were also injured.

Composa said they were informed of the killing at about 5 a.m. on Thursday, three hours after the incident took place.

He also said that they are still identifying the suspects behind the death of Santillan, and those involved in the gunbattle. Santillan was the sixth TFM leader killed in Negros Occidental since 2004, whose deaths were linked to the implementation of the agrarian reform programs in the province, police said.

Senior Supt. Rosendo Franco, provincial police director, yesterday said that, contrary to claims that the La Castellana police failed to perform their mandated tasks, policemen riding in a "marked vehicle" were prevented from entering the disputed area by TFM members.

They were only allowed to enter after the gunbattle started, Franco said.

TFM condemned Franco for his alleged inaction over the acts of what it called "terror" in Hacienda Malaga-Velez.

Franco said self-installation of TFM members triggered a commotion, which later led to the shoot-out between agrarian reform beneficiaries and hacienda guards.

Recovered in the backyard of Santillan's house were 13 Tanduay rum bottles filled with gasoline believed left behind by the suspects, five empty shells of an M-16 armalite rifle and .45 caliber pistol.

On the other hand, eight spent shells from a shotgun were also found by the police at the gunbattle scene on Wednesday in the hacienda.

As to questions on violations of the Comelec gun ban, Franco said he believes there was none as security guards were in uniform and were performing their task in an area where they are assigned.

Police records show that the majority of agrarian-reform related violence cases in Negros Occidental involve TFM members.*GPB

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