Two of the three security guards charged for the murder of an agrarian reform beneficiary, yesterday invoked self-defense in the shooting of Task Force Mapalad members who, they claimed, opened fire at them, in Hacienda Velez-Malaga, Brgy. Robles, La Castellana.

The two suspects, identified as Warren Fernandez and Felix Sadiasa, who were among the six security guards hired by the hacienda management, yesterday gave themselves up to the police. They were presented by a representative of the Cornerstone Security Agency to Senior Supt. Rosendo Franco at Camp Alfredo Montelibano Sr. in Bacolod City.

Fernandez, Sadiasa and Enrique Maliksi who tested positive for gunpowder burns, are facing murder charges for the shooting to death of TFM member Alejandro Garcesa, police said.

Additional charges of murder and multiple frustrated murder are also being readied by the La Castellana police against the three, also in connection with the death of TFM member Ely Tupas and injuries to his six colleagues.

Fernandez said they called the attention of TFM members who started to clear the 5-hectare area in the hacienda, of sugarcane planted.

He claimed they were forced to fire warning shots after they were assaulted by a mob estimated of about 60 to 70 TFM members, some of them who were armed with .38 caliber revolvers, and sumpak (homemade shotguns), who opened fire at them, while others were throwing stones.

Fernandez said TFM members kept on pursuing them while they were withdrawing from the area. He added that he had no idea if there were TFM members being hit after they fired. Franco said Fernandez and Sadiasa will be detained at the La Castellana police jail, pending resolution of the criminal complaints filed against them.

On the other hand, Maliksi is detained at the police jail of La Carlota City.

Senior Inspector Regidor Alvarado, La Castellana police chief, said the names of Maliksi, Fernandez and Sadiasa were mentioned in the affidavits of witnesses.

Meanwhile, officials of Task Force Mapalad yesterday scored the claims of the two security guards in a press release yesterday. "After two weeks in hiding, they have perfected their scripts but the problem is, the truth can never be hidden," Jerry Cajilig said as he pointed out what he called as inconsistencies in the statements of suspects Soriano and Sadiasa.

He also said that whatever story they cook up, the truth is apparent because they have evidence, such as pictures and videos that show they did not use any weapons.

He was reacting to allegations of the duo that they were forced to fire back when they were pelted with stones and fired at with homemade shotguns.

The local affiliate of TFM, the Hacienda Veles-Malaga Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organization, occupied the land formerly owned by Cuenca after they were installed last March 22 this year by Land Reform Secetary. Nasser Pangandaman. After the DAR failed to conduct a demarcation survey, however, the farmers decided to go back to the property and start the cultivation, the TFDM press release said.

In the same press release, Edna Sobrecaray of TFM accused provincial police chief, Senior Supt. Rosendo Franco of leading a whitewash.

She called it special treatment and an attempt to cover up the truth, and asked why should Franco give the guards two more weeks when he could have ordered the La Castellana PNP to arrest them as part of the hot pursuit operations after the incident.*GPB

back to top