Four members of a family, including two minors, were massacred by unidentified suspects who peppered them with bullets in Sitio Kankiling, Brgy. Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, 10 p.m. Wednesday, June 14.
Killed in their home was farmer Emilda Susano Fausto, 49, and her sons aged 11 and 15 years old.
The body of her husband, Rolly Sabanal Fausto, 52 was found in a corn field about 500 meters away from their house on Thursday morning.
Their bodies sustained multiple gunshot wounds, PLt. Col. Reynante Jomocan, Himamaylan police chief, said.
The Himamaylan police are searching for the witness who guided the gunmen to the home of the Faustos. He is vital to establishing the identities of the killers, the police said.
The body of Emilda was found by the stairs of the house, one son was shot in his sleep, and the other minor was hanging from a door, the police said.
Jomocan said the husband probably tried to escape despite a gunshot wound that he sustained.
A daughter of the Faustos who was not at her parents’ home when the incident happened reported the massacre to the police.
The neighbors initially though that an encounter between the Army and rebels had taken place.
The police chief said multiple bullets from a 5.56 caliber gun were found in the area, and a firearm.
The road going to Sitio Kangkiling is inaccessible to 4-wheel drive vehicles.
PCapt. Arturo Magallo Jr., Deputy for Administration of the Himamaylan City Police Station, said that the sitio is considered a security risk area that is why it was subjected to clearing operations by the Philippine Army prior to the investigation by police personnel.
The bodies of the victims were transferred to the Himamaylan City Health Office for post-mortem examination, Jomocan added.*