Bulacan couple slain after spat with Ilocos political family kin

Farmers groups hit PNP for inaction 

SAN JUAN DEL MONTE, Bulacan -- Farmers’ groups have denounced the police’s alleged lack of interest in solving the case of two of their members, who were killed over what appears to be a land dispute here.

“Days have passed since Roger Vargas and his wife Lucila were shot dead, but the police have yet to issue any report or update on the case,” Kilusang Magbubukidng Pilipinas (KMP) secretary-general Antonio Flores said.

KMP and another farmers’ group Tanggol Magsasaka lambasted the municipal police for its alleged failure to investigate the crime.

The Vargases were members of the Nagkakaisang Magsasakang San Isidro and Alyansang Magbubukid sa Bulacan.

Flores said the victims were beneficiaries of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program and were awarded a certificate of land ownership for a property in Barangay San Isidro.

The property is reportedly being claimed by a political family from Ilocos.

The couple figured in a spat with the family a day before they were shot dead on Sept. 19.

“We were informed that it took the San Jose Del Monte police six days to record the incident on the blotter,” Flores said.

He said the police cited the absence of a complainant for not immediately recording the incident.