- GILBERT BAYORAN
As witnesses came out to help authorities in giving justice to the victims of massacre in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Monday, June 19, he was informed that the suspects have already been identified.
Lacson, however, said he is still waiting for an official report from the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office as to the progress of their investigation, including the motive of the suspects.
On June 14, unidentified suspects brutally killed Rolly Fausto, his wife, Imelda, and two minor sons 11 and 15 years old.
Fifty-three empty shells of M16 assault rifle were recovered at the scene of incident, and all victims succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds, the police said.
Himamaylan Mayor Raymund Tongson Jr. said that witnesses have come forward to help with the investigation on the massacre.
The four victims were buried Sunday at the public cemetery in Brgy. Aguisan, Himamaylan City, as facilitated by the city government.
On the possible offer of cash reward for the identification and arrest of the suspects, Lacson said he will wait for the investigation report of the Philippine National Police.
Aside from the police, the Commission on Human Rights in Negros Occidental also dispatched its investigators to Himamaylan to conduct their own probe.
The Makibaka Negros, in a statement, welcomed the announcement of the CHR to conduct an independent probe on the incident.
Tongson said that information provided by witnesses helped in the identification of the suspects and in uncovering their motive.
However, police probers are tightlipped on the progress of their investigations, which is understandable, according to Lacson, pending the ongoing follow-up operations./GB
