• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Almost four months after the massacre of her parents and two siblings, which was allegedly perpetrated by the New People’s Army in Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, the eldest daughter of slain couple Rolly and Emilda Fausto has decided to file formal charges against the suspects.
PCol. Leo Pamittan, provincial police director, said that PCol. Reynante Jomocan, Himamaylan City police chief, informed him that Emily Fausto assured them she will go to the police station and sign the case documents.
The charges will be filed before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office against “more than 10 suspects” tagged as the perpetrators behind the death of her parents and two siblings on June 14, he added.
One of the suspects turned out to be the father-in-law of Emily, who allegedly led the a group of armed rebels, in the commission of crime, police investigation showed.
The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division reported that the Fausto couple and their two minor children were tagged by the NPA as military informants.
Earlier, the police said Emily initially appeared to have been hesitant in pursuing criminal complaints for still unknown reasons.
Pamittan said that on Aug. 15, the Himamaylan City Police Station contacted the Fausto siblings for them to sign the case documents.
“Unfortunately, the two surviving siblings were hesitant to sign,” he noted.
On Sept. 1, Emily agreed that the Himamaylan City Police Station will be the one to file the complaints, with authority from her, through a signed waiver, Pamittan said.
More than a month after, he said Emily called the police station, informing them that she will personally file the case.
Pamittan said the complaint documents are now ready for signing by Emily.
He added that Emily may have changed her mind after the police constantly communicated with her.
Prosecutor Flosemer Gonzales, spokesperson of the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, earlier said that Rolly, the patriarch, was targeted because he was a former rebel turned military asset, and worked for the surrender of some of his comrades, including the in-laws of Emily. | GB
