CHR probes Himamaylan massacre

By Glazyl Y. Masculino and Jennifer P. Rendon

BACOLOD City – The Commission on Human Rights (CHR), through its office in Western Visayas, has dispatched investigators to seek justice and pursue the truth behind the brutal killing of a couple and their two children in Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental last week.

In a statement released over the weekend, the CHR said that all possible angles will be pursued in the course of CHR’s independent investigation.

“At this point, there are already allegations that the incident was insurgency-related allegedly linked to the New People’s Army (NPA), and also allegedly linked to the Philippine Army,” the CHR said.

The NPA earlier slammed the Army for the said massacre, but the latter denied the accusation of the rebel group, saying that they are just “desperate” to tarnish the reputation of the Army in the province and to cover up the truth.

The CHR condemned the brutal killing of the Fausto Family at their residence in Sitio Kangkiling, Barangay Buenavista on June 14.

Emilda, 49, her husband Rolly, 52, and their two sons aged 11 and 15 were shot dead by unidentified armed persons on the night of June 14.

The CHR stressed the primacy of the right to life. “Any instance to arbitrarily deprive a person of their life, moreso if vulnerable sectors are involved, should be faced with the full force of the law,” the CHR said.

The Commission is hoping that witnesses will surface towards the resolution of this case and in defense of human rights.

Meanwhile, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson is also urging law enforcement authorities to lead an in-depth investigation on the massacre, which he considered a horrible incident.

Lacson said that those guilty must be brought to justice as soon as possible, as he condemned this horrible act.

“Such brutality, which threatens to destabilize our province and destroy the peace of our people, has no place in our society,” the governor said in a statement.

Lacson said that the massacre of innocent civilians is an outrage to the morals, values, and commitment to peace and justice.

He called on Negrenses to be united in condemning this act of violence. “Together, let us sustain and protect the gains of our collective efforts for a more peaceful and progressive province,” he said.

The four victims were laid to rest at the public cemetery in Barangay Aguisan yesterday.

Police are also waiting for witnesses to show up to aid them in the investigation.

MORE CONDEMNATION

The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, and the Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 issued separate statements condemning the massacre.

The 3rd ID denounced “the senseless and brutal killings of Fausto family.”

The 3rd ID hierarchy also denounced the baseless and fallacious accusations made by Human Rights Advocates Negros and IFI Bishop for Migrants in Europe, Bishop Antonio Ablon. “These entities and personalities were barking at the wrong tree. These barbaric and inhumane acts are but the trademark of the CPP-NPA Terrorists (CNTs),” Major General Marion Sison, 3rd ID commander, said.

Sison said that it’s a desperate move by the NPA as they suffer from the series of debacles from the Phil Army’s continues conduct of combat operations.

“This is part of CTGs black propaganda and diversionary tactics, as they continue to suffer devastating defeats in Negros due to the relentless operations of government forces,” he said.

After all, “the CPP-NPA terrorists have long been known for their trademark strategy of deflecting blame, persuading people in deception, and pointing dirty fingers at the Philippine Army and other government institutions whenever they face setbacks and defeat.”

The 3rd ID’s sentiments are also shared by PRO-6 saying that what happened is a show of senseless acts of violence and terrorism against innocent civilians.

Both the 3rd ID and PRO-6 have vowed to bring the terrorists to justice.

They also assured to utilize all their resources to effectively neutralize any and all threats to the safety, security, and welfare of the people of Himamaylan City and the rest of Western Visayas.

Both government forces have also asked the people of Himamaylan City to remain vigilant against NPA atrocities, as they also asked for their help in giving Justice to the family of the slain victims

“The quest for justice is always a shared responsibility between the police and the community,” PRO-6 said.

The incident claimed the lives of Rolly Fausto, 52; his wife Emilda, 49; and their sons Ben, 11, and Raben, 15.

Police reports indicated that their bodies sustained close-range gunshot wounds allegedly from an M16 rifle.

Their eldest daughter informed the police a day after the incident was committed.

The bodies were later retrieved in different locations. Rolly’s body was found in a cornfield 50 meters away from their house, while Emilda and their sons were found inside and outside their houses.