LINGAYEN–The Pangasinan Police is looking into several possible motives, particularly land dispute, behind the slaying of a militant farmers’ group, who was gunned down while on a tricycle with a lone companion, at 11:00 p.m. on February 18 in Barangay Sangcagulis, Bayambang.

P/Sr. Superintendent. Wilson Lopez, police provincial director, said the ongoing investigation into the killing of Roberto Mejia, 49, leader of the local Ulupan na Umbaley ed Camp Gregg Military Reservation-KMP in Barangay Sangcagulis and member of the Anakpawis, is being done by the Police Provincial Office, Bayambang Police and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

KMP stands for Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas.

Mejia, along with his relative Miguelito Mejia, 54 were on board a motorized (garong type) tricycle headed towards the west direction along the M.H.. del Pilar-Sangcagulis Road   when they were shot by two men riding in tandem on board a motorcycle.

Meguilito Mejia was unhurt.

Roberto Mejia, who suffered four gunshot wounds in different parts of his body was rushed to the Bayambang District Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.  The PNP in a report initially tagged land dispute as the motive of the slaying.

Another report said the victim was tagged as one of the farmer leaders who actively participated in the six-hectare “Bungkalan” in Barangay Sangcagulis that was allegedly the subject of land grabbing by a family who intended to develop the land into a housing subdivision.

“Tulong-tulong ang lahat ng ating PNP forces para malutas ang kaso,” Lopez told newsmen in an interview.

At the same time, Lopez said that the checkpoint operations of the police and the Comelec in 48 towns and cities of Pangasinan are continuing in connection with the election gun ban.

He cautioned Pangasinenses not to fear the checkpoints being conducted by the police because this is for their own safety.

Lopez clarified that motorcycles are not spared from the ongoing checkpoints as they are  verifying the ownership of the motorcycle that the rider is on board. (Leonardo Micua)

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