THE National Solidarity Mission (NSM) conducted a visit to Barangay Buenavista in Himamaylan City on June 22, following the Fausto family massacre on June 14 and Crispin Tingal on May 3.
The NSM was composed of representatives from the Philippine Congress, and various organizations, including church, farmers, women, Indigenous Peoples, environmental rights defenders, and children’s rights defenders.
Speaking at the press conference on Friday, June 23, were Kabataan Partylist Representative Raoul Manuel, Gabriela Secretary General Clarice Palce, Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) Bacolod Bishop Virgilio Amihan, Sister Maureen Catabian PCPR, Prof. Sarah Raymundo of BAYAN, Union ng Manggagawa sa Agrkilutura (UMA) Chairperson Ariel Casilao, Tiben Wahing of the Children's Rehabilitation Center (CRC).
In a statement, the NSM indicated their major findings, which include "a similar pattern in the killings of the Fausto family and the Crispin Tingal murder, which involved frustrated killing of his family in their home in Sitio Dangalon, Brgy. Hilamonan."
The NSM statement highlighted the human rights violations leading up to the killings of Tingal and the Fausto family.
"It is a culmination of a series of harassment, destruction of properties, violation of domicile, illegal search, and red tagging that was similarly inflicted on the Tingal family, who barely escaped a pattern of attacks, from red tagging to massacre," the statement read.
During their visit to Himamaylan, the group spoke to the local community, who shared their own experiences of similar rights violations.
They claimed that there are at least three incidents of frustrated killings; three incidents of illegal arrest; a case of a missing person; numerous reports of threats, harassment, and intimidation; violation of domicile; destruction of livelihood; use of public space for military purposes; endangerment of the civilian populace; attacks on schools; disruption of classes for two weeks after a military attack; indiscriminate firing; and red-tagging.
Manuel said he, together with Deputy Minority Leader France Castro of ACT and Asst. Minority Leader Arlene Brosas of Gabriela, filed on June 19 House Resolution 1091, calling on the Committee on Human Rights ng Kamara to investigate the massacre of the Fausto family.
Manuel noted this is not the first resolution filed by Makabayan bloc related to civilian killings in Negros, saying, "Buot silingon, sa idalom sang administrasyon ni Marcos Jr, nagapadayon ang paglapas sa kinamatarong sang mga ordinaryo nga pumuluyo ilabi na gid sa mga militarized area."
"Kahit na walang pormal na deklarasyon ng Martial Law, parang Martial Law na rin ang araw-araw na buhay ng mga nakatira sa mga lugar sa Negros at iba pang bahagi ng bansa na okupado ng maraming bilang ng militar," Manuel added.
"We hope the police’s investigation of the Fausto massacre was genuinely impartial—only then would their supposed breakthrough have credibility. Problem is, reports on the ground say otherwise. Stories of coercion, in which witnesses are forced to testify and follow a script provided by the PNP to paint the NPA as perpetrators, have been shared with us. And sadly, none of this is new: what happened to the victims and survivors of the Sagay massacre—blamed for the very attack perpetrated on them—is a testament to the PNP’s same old modus operandi," said UMA Chairperson Ariel Casilao.
"As shepherd of the flocks (the Fausto's) we call to bring it comes of the brutal and barbaric killings of the Fausto's and put the perpetrators behind bars to end the widespread EJK in the Island of Negros," said Bishop Amihan.
The NSM called for an end to "the relentless attacks on farming communities not only in Himamaylan and Kabankalan but in the whole Negros Island."
They also urged the Commission on Human Rights, and the Congress to conduct an impartial investigation of these cases in Negros.
"Families experience loss of livelihood, severe trauma, especially among children, and a grave violation of their freedom of association. Farmers who cultivate the land and feed the nation deserve peace, justice, and the right to enjoy the fruits of their labor," the statement said. (PR)