BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has started its independent investigation of the Fausto family massacre in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental.
It will take more than 100 days or around six months to complete, according to CHR-Negros Occidental head Vincent Parra, after which the results will be submitted to CHR-Western Visayas for resolution.
Parra said they have a pending request to the Himamaylan City police for documents regarding their own probe into the crime.
Initial investigation revealed that the father, Rolly Fausto, was a military informant and involved in facilitating the surrender of New People’s Army (NPA) rebels.
The CHR said there were also claims that linked the killings to the Philippine Army.
“All possible angles will be pursued in the course of CHR’s independent investigation,” it said in a statement.
It added: “Any instance to arbitrarily deprive a person of their life, moreso if vulnerable sectors are involved, should be faced with the full force of the law. We hope witnesses also surface [and help in] the resolution of this case and in defense of human rights.”
On June 14, Rolly, his wife Emilda and their two sons, 11-year-old Ben and 15-year-old Raben, were gunned down by still unidentified assailants at their house in Sitio Kangkiling, Barangay Buenavista.
Barangay Buenavista in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental is one of several NPA-influenced areas in central Negros where clashes that claimed the lives of several communist rebels and government troops have taken place in recent years. (With a report from inquirer.net)/PN
