Guv orders law enforcers to probe family massacre

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental governor Eugenio Jose Lacson ordered both the top police and military officials in the province to investigate the recent massacre of a family in the upland area of Himamaylan City.

“I urge our law enforcement authorities to lead an in-depth investigation into this horrible act,” Lacson added.

He also condemned the massacre.

“The massacre of innocent civilians is an outrage to our morals, our values, and our commitment to peace and justice. On behalf of the people of Negros Occidental, I strongly condemn the massacre in Sitio Kangkiling, Brgy. Buenavista, Himamaylan City which claimed the lives of 4 people, a husband and wife, and their 2 minor children.”

Lacson said that such brutality, “that threatens to destabilize our province and destroy the peace of our people, has no place in our society.”

The remains of Rolly Fausto, 50; his wife Imelda, 49, and their two children aged 15 and 11 years were found in separate areas, the local police here said.

Fausto was found in a cornfield some 50 meters away from his house while his wife and children were found in and outside their house in Sitio Kangkiling, Barangay Buenavista.

Brig. Gen. Orlando Edralin, commander of 303rd IBde, said Friday the military would “spare no effort” to pursue justice for the victims and their families.

“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the brutal killing of (an) innocent family in Himamaylan City. As your defenders, we will closely coordinate with the Philippine National Police to fast-track the resolution of the crime and bring the perpetrators to justice,” Edralin said.

Meanwhile, farmers and peasant rights advocates here called on the country’s human rights ombudsman to investigate the massacre of a peasant family of four in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental.

The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) said in a statement that before their deaths, the family “endured a string of red tagging, physical and mental torture, grave coercion, and illegal searches perpetrated by state forces.”