Task Force Mapalad is calling for justice for a Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program beneficiary who was killed by two alleged security guards of Hacienda Biellabail in Brgy. Tuguis, Hinigaran, Negros Occidental.
Julius Denagiba Jr., 35, a father of two minors and vice chairman of the Hacienda Biellabail Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organization in Brgy. Tuguis, was gunned down by two security guards wearing blue uniforms and a watchman in plainclothes around 9 a.m. Wednesday, June 23, according to at least four witnesses, Lani Factor, TFM national deputy coordinator, said Friday, June 25.
The suspected killers, who fled after the crime, were employed by the former landowner of the 120-hectare portion of a farm already acquired by the Department of Agrarian Reform, Factor claimed.
Maria Leony Denagiba said her husband went out to the field with his younger brother and son to harvest grass for his carabao and was about to leave and board a motorcycle when the assailants with long-barreled firearms shot him in the right side of his chest and in the left side of his stomach.
“Julius was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. He lost a lot of blood. I believe his killing has something to do with his leading the campaign for our rights to the land. The Department of Agrarian Reform should have awarded the hacienda to us years ago but the former landowner still controls and profits from the property,” TFM quoted her as saying.
“May the death of my husband be given justice. This would not have happened if the DAR installed us immediately on the land and protected our right to it,” she added.
“President Duterte, please give us the land. We hope that you will be able to implement the CARP law effectively. Don’t let us live in fear and danger and be wiped out here,” she appealed.
Denagiba was shot at Hacienda Biellabail in Barangay Tugis at 9:30 a.m. on June 23 and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Hinigaran Emergency Clinic, PMaj. Jake Barila, Hinigaran police chief, said Friday.
The suspects are Roger Belonio and Eric Soriano, security guards of RHN Security Agency, detailed at Hacienda Biellabail who remain at large, Barila said in a police report.
Initial investigation showed that the victim was harvesting napier grass and was warned by the suspects to stop, which resulted in a heated confrontation and the shooting of the victim, , Barila said.*