NEGROS Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said he cannot comment on the whereabouts of the daughter survivor of the Himamaylan City massacre.
"I am not in authority to say anything about the status of Emily," Lacson said.
While the police said they have knowledge of Emily's whereabouts but cannot reveal them for security reasons, the Commission on Human Rights said they could not locate her based on their investigation.
Emily, daughter of Rolly and Emilda, was the one who reported to the Himamaylan City Police Station about the killing of her parents and two younger siblings. There are reports that he is in the custody of a non-government organization.
Meanwhile, the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) will join the ongoing parallel investigation of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on the Himamaylan massacre.
Jeorge Largado, NCIP commissioner in Negros Occidental, said he has already ordered an immediate response team to go to Brgy. Carol-an, Kabankalan City.
Emilda Susano Fausto, one of the victims of the massacre, is reportedly an IP member of the village.
Largado said they will verify the information that Emilda is a member of the Bukidnon Carolano tribe.
He also said their agency would investigate the situation of the IP community in the area.
“We will give all the assistance needed by the Fausto family,” he said.
There are 77 IP communities in Negros Occidental, and the majority of them live in hinterland areas and are often caught in the crossfire in armed encounters between government troops and the New People's Army, he added.
Early this week, Vincent Parra, head of CHR-Negros Occidental, said that they will conduct a background investigation of Emilda as she is said to be a native of Barangay Carol-an, Kabankalan City.*