The Philippine National Police in Western Visayas on Thursday, June 22, said the facts indicate categorically that members of the New People’s Army massacred four members of the Fausto family in Himamaylan City.
“We present our case based on evidence and not on hearsay and biased statements from the CPP-NDF-NPA propaganda machinery,” PMaj. Mary Grace Socorro Borio, PNP 6 spokesperson, said in a statement.
Farmer Rolly Fausto, his wife, Imelda, and their two sons aged 15 and 11 years, were peppered with bullets in their home at Sitio Kangkiling, Brgy. Buenavista, Himamaylan City, on June 14.
The identification of the NPA members behind the massacre is based on testimony of witnesses, two of whom are vital and have been secured, PLt. Col. Reynante Jomocan, Himamaylan police chief, said.
One witness also positively identified one NPA rebel and they are consolidating documents for the filing of the case, he added.
The police said the 15-man rebel team that carried out the massacre was allegedly headed by Fernando Hermino, Central Negros 2 squad leader.
“The ploy of the CPP-NPA to discredit the government forces and create fear amongst those peace advocates who believe that peace can bring progress even in the hinterlands will not succeed”, Borio said.
“The people are now wide awake to the evils of communism, clothed in empty promises, ideology, and principle that no longer breathe, but rather, only exist in the subconscious of those deceived disciples of communism”, she added.
Borio said she issued the statement in response to the baseless and malicious accusations made by Butch Lozande, Unyon ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura spokesperson, on the alleged inability of the police to objectively investigate the Himamaylan killings.
It must be stressed that he issued his malicious statements prematurely while investigation is being conducted by the local police, she said.
Lozande obtained his information from erroneous sources, particularly from biased fabricated accounts aimed at vilifying the army unit in Himamaylan, Borio said.
Lozande should know by now that the investigation has uncovered that NPA terrorists killed the four members of the Fausto family, Borio said.
PRO6 will utilize all its efforts and resources in order to bring the perpetrators to justice, she added.*