Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and law enforcement officials condemned on Friday, May 16, the massacre of a family in a rebel-infested remote village of Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, and vowed justice for the victims.
The Army also denied allegations of the New People’s Army (NPA) that it was behind the massacre.
Rolly Fausto, 52, his wife Emilda, 49, and their sons Ben, 11, and Raben, 15, were riddled with bullets and found dead in Sitio Kankiling, Brgy. Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday night.
Lt. Col. Van Donald Almonte, 94th Infantry Battalion commander, said Rolly Fausto was a peace loving individual who wanted to help the in-laws of his daughter Emily, who are NPA members, live normal and peaceful lives.
He was negotiating for their surrender, Almonte said.
Almonte said the NPA rebels in the past weeks have been killing persons they suspect of being Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines informants.
They are executing people on mere suspicion, he said.
The NPA Negros Island Regional Operational Command said on its website that the massacre of the Fausto family, including two minors, is a mark of the evil deeds of the 94th IB that sows state terror in the mountainous areas of Himamaylan.
The 303rd Infantry Brigade vehemently denied the accusations made by the NPA linking the Army to the massacre of the Fausto family.
These allegations are nothing but an attempt by the desperate NPA to tarnish the reputation of the Army in the province, Brig. Gen. Orlando Edralin, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said in a statement on Friday.
Pointing their dirty finger at the Army is part of their deceptive tactic to cover up the truth, he said.
“These communist terrorists quickly blame the Army without proof to mislead the people and to hide their guilty hands, Edralin said.
Edralin said they extend their deepest condolences to the grieving family, and condemn the brutal killings of the Faustos in the strongest possible terms.
“We assure the public that we are committed to uncovering the truth behind this horrific incident and in bringing the perpetrators to justice,” he added.
APPREHEND CULPRITS
“In an incident like this I think the least that can be given to the surviving member of the family is justice. We do hope that the culprits can be identified and more importantly apprehended so that justice can be served,” Lacson said.
The governor extended his condolences to the surviving member of the family. “I hope she will be okay, she will be safe and that justice will be given to her,” Lacson said.
The governor said he would like to know what the motive for the killing of the family was.
He said the provincial government will reach out to the lone survivor of the family to see what assistance can be given to her.
Lacson said the rebels may be passing the blame to the Army to muddle the issue.
SENSELESS VIOLENCE
PBrig. Gen. Sidney Villaflor, Police Regional Office 6 (PRO 6) acting regional director, also condemned the “senseless violence and terrorism” that caused the death of the four family members in Himamaylan.
“PRO6 vows to bring the terrorists to justice and will utilize all its resources to effectively neutralize any and all threats to the safety, security, and welfare of the people of Western Visayas”, he said.*