EU condemns killing of lawyer Benjamin Ramos

The European Union (EU) denounced the killing of lawyer Benjamin Ramos, who was shot dead in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental on Nov. 6.

In a statement sent to reporters on Friday, the EU said it “strongly condemned” the killing of Ramos, who was also assisting the families of nine sugarcane farmers killed in Sagay, Negros Occidental last Oct. 20.

READ: Human rights lawyer shot dead in Kabankalan, Negros Occidental

“The European Union strongly condemns the killing by unidentified men on 6 November 2018 of Attorney Benjamin Tarug Ramos, Secretary General of Negros Occidental Chapter of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers,” the EU said.

Ramos, who was a founding member of the National Union of the Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL), was standing in front of a store when one of the two men on a motorcycle shot him three times last Tuesday.

READ: Lawyer for 9 slain farmers shot dead

The EU also extended its condolences to families of the victims of the Sagay massacre, noting it expects the ongoing investigation will bring justice for the farmers.

“The European Union expresses its sincere condolences to the families of all the victims and looks to the ongoing investigations, as announced by the Government, to swiftly bring those responsible to justice,” the EU said.

Nine members of the National Federation of Sugarcane Workers (NFSW) were shot dead by unidentified men while they were preparing to cultivate land in Hacienda Nene in Sagay City last October 20.

READ: 9 sugarcane workers gunned down in Negros Occidental

Some lawmakers in the House of Representatives and the Senate sought for an inquiry into the massacre of the sugarcane workers. /jpv