Family of 4 massacred in Himamaylan

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Police are exploring all possible angles in the death of four members of a family at Sitio Kangkiling, Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental last Wednesday.

The victims were identified as the Fausto family – Emilda, 49, her husband Rolly, 52, and their two sons aged 11 and 15. They are farmers, according to the police.

Lieutenant Colonel Reynante Jomocan, city police chief, said the victims were at home when unidentified persons stormed their house around 10 p.m. and shot them.

The incident was reported by their daughter to the police early the following day.

Jomocan said they are initially looking at the incident as insurgency-related, considering that the victims have relatives who are allegedly active members of the New People’s Army (NPA).

Despite this, Jomocan said they will probe other possible angles that could be linked to the crime.

Emilda and her children were found lifeless at their house, while Rolly was found dead about 50 meters away from their residence, according to the police.

The incident happened, a few hours after suspected NPA rebels allegedly burned and destroyed two backhoes amounting to P7.5 million in Barangay Carabalan in the said city that night.

Police Colonel Leo Pamittan, director of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) appealed to the public and all the possible witnesses to cooperate with the investigation of the police.

All information will be instrumental for a fast solution to the case and justice for the victims, he said in a statement.

Two farmers claimed by NPA rebels as military informants were killed in Barangays Carabalan and Buenavista on June 2 and May 25, respectively.

A series of clashes between the NPA rebels and the government forces also occurred in these two villages early this year.