• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Justice remains elusive for the family of four massacred by suspected New People’s Army rebels in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, almost seven months after their deaths.
Authorities have yet to file multiple counts of murder against the perpetrators, Vincent Parra, head of the Commission on Human Rights in Negros Occidental, said yesterday.
Couple Roly and Emelda Fausto and their two minor sons were brutally killed by alleged communist rebels at their house in Sitio Kalingking, Barangay Buenavista in June 14 last year.
“In our end, we want the case to be filed in court, and that due process must be observed. The killings must be addressed since it is a violation of the right to life,” Parra said.
While grave threats and coercion charges have been filed by the Himamaylan City Police Station against suspected NPA members, “it is a separate case” and does not address the killings, he added.
Parra said the police is still seeking the cooperation of Emily, eldest daughter of the Fausto couple, in the filing of murder charges against the suspects.
The leader of the NPA suspects turned out to be the father-in-law of Emily, based on police investigation.
According to the police, Emily assured them of her cooperation in the filing of charges against the killers of her siblings and parents.
PCol. Leo Pamittan, provincial director of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, earlier said that Emily may have changed her mind and decided to cooperate after constant communication with the police.
Parra said the police can still file charges against the perpetrators of the massacre as what they have done in other cases, involving the NPA. | GB
