Cops building solid case vs Himamaylan massacre suspects

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Police Brigadier General Sidney Villaflor, director of Police Regional Office (PRO)-6, said they are making sure that they will have a solid case against the perpetrators who killed a family of four in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental last month.

During his visit here last July 13, 2023, Villaflor said they are balancing the prompt filing of the case against the pieces of evidence that will be studied in court.

“Puwede naming apurahin, pero baka mahilaw,” he added.

It’s been a month since the Fausto family – Emilda, 49, her husband Rolly, 52, and their two sons aged 11 and 15 were killed when unidentified armed persons believed to be New People’s Army (NPA) strafed their house at Sitio Kangkiling, Barangay Buenavista on the night of June 14.

Villaflor said that based on forensics and the judicial affidavit that was executed, it was found that the NPA was behind the incident.

“Na find out na iyong isa sa pinatay, he was then encouraging his brother-in-law to return to the folds of the law. But unfortunately, nangyari ang incident even ang mga anak pinatay,” he added.

If you become a hindrance to their cause, you will be eliminated, Villaflor said.

The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) here earlier identified a certain Fernando Hermino, an alleged squad leader of Central Negros (CN) 2, and his group as reportedly behind the said massacre based on the affidavit executed by the witnesses. But, no other details were disclosed, pending the investigation.

The incident was earlier denied by the NPA, putting the blame on the local Army, but the latter also dismissed the allegation.

Villaflor said they have many pieces of evidence – both in affidavits and forensics – but they need to balance the urgency of the filing of the case.

“Merong cases that took decades to be solved. Binabalanse namin para mabigat na kaso ang ifile sa kalaban, at para hindi madismiss ang kaso,” he added.

Policemen earlier said that they have two witnesses, but they urged more witnesses to surface to strengthen the evidence against the suspects.