• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Justice remains elusive for the victims of a massacre allegedly perpetrated by the New People’s Army in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, as the complainant, ironically a member of the family, is no longer in the province, according to the Commission on Human Rights.
As of this time, Vincent Parra, head of the CHR sub office in Negros Occidental, said that murder cases have yet to be filed by the Himamaylan City police, as they are still waiting for the complainant, Emily Fausto Hermino, to appear at the police station for the filing of cases.
Emily is the daughter-in-law of Fernando Hermino, who led a group of NPA rebels tagged as the suspects in the massacre of her parents and siblings identified as Rolly Fausto, 52, his wife, Emilda, 49, and their two minor sons on June 14 this year, at their residence in Sitio Kankiling, Brgy. Buenavista, Himamaylan City, according to police reports.
After the massacre incident, a non-government organization reportedly took Emily into its custody.
Parra also said the lone witness to the murder cases was reportedly harassed by the NPA.
If they will wait for the complainant, he said it will take time for them to file the case, stressing also that the police can still file charges against the suspects, in behalf of the complainant.
Parra also said that the Himamaylan police was able to file charges of grave coercion against the NPA, who forced a witness to pinpoint the location of the house of the Fausto family.
Rolly Fausto, according to the Philippine Army, was a military informant, who had been negotiating with Fernando Hermino and other NPA members to surrender.
In a statement, the NPA earlier accused the military as behind in the massacre of Fausto family, who had been Red-tagged.*
