Soldiers of the 94th IB massacred a family, including two children, on the evening of June 14 in Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental. Soldiers fatally shot 50-year old Emilda Fausto and her children Raben Fausto, 11, and Ben Fausto, 15, in their sleep. The family’s father Roly Fausto, 52, was found dead outside of their house.

They are active members of the local peasant group Baklayan, Bito, Cabagal Farmers Association (BABICAFA).

Even before the massacre, they were repeatedly harassed by soldiers who accused them supporting the New People’s Army (NPA). They reported these incidents to human rights organizations.

Statements of condemnation and calls for justice on the Fausto family massacre mounted. Various groups staged protests in front of the Commission on Human Rights in Quezon City and the AFP Visayas Command Headquarters in Cebu City to demand military accountability. They lambasted the AFP’s outright peddling of lies and distortion of facts regarding the massacre.

Apart from them, four other civilians were mercilessly killed by soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Negros, Masbate and Albay.

On June 13, the indiscriminate firing of weapons by the 62nd IB killed Benjie Ebarle and Roweno Anubong in Barangay Macagahay, Moises Padilla. The incident took place after the military encountered a unit of the people’s army in a nearby sitio.

Also killed from indiscriminate fire by AFP soldiers was 17-year old Carling Belan on June 16 at Sityo Manaybanay, Barangay Calabad, Dimasalang, Masbate. His companion Panoy Pepito was wounded. After the incident, soldiers arrested three of his companions identified as Wengweng Hagnaya, Damang Tumangan and Edlang Tumangan.

Meanwhile, the killing of peasant Zaldy Cañaveral, 40, by the 9th ID was recently repored. He was shot by soldiers on May 24 while working on his corn fields in Barangay Busac, Ligao City, Albay.

Arrest. Without presenting any warrant, police illegally arrested Danilo Acayin, resident of Barangay Puray, Rodriguez, Rizal at around 1 p.m. on June 5 on charges of murder. He is currently detained in Antipolo City.

On June 16, the 62nd IB arrested construction worker Aldren Valbueno at Sitio Manta-uyan, Barangay Macagahay, Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental. Soldiers claim to have confiscated from him a .45 calibre pistol and a military bag. He is accused of being a member of the people’s army.

Police arrested on June 19 four farmers at Sitio Caorasan, Barangay San Agustin, Pili, Camarines Sur on trumped-up charges. The arrested are protesting against the Naga Airport Development project in the province.

Former leader of the Damayan nin Paraoma sa Camarines Sur (DAMPA) and regional council member of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Bicol Artemio Sanchez is one of those arrested.

Shooting. Soldiers of the 62nd IB indiscriminately fired their weapons at Sitio Uyangan, Brgy Budlasan, Canlaon City around 11 p.m. on June 15. This caused trauma and fear among residents.

Assault. In Masbate, soldiers beat-up and mugged Nono Sayson and four other farmers from June 1 to June 5 in Barangay Buenasuerte in Palanas, Barangay Guindawhan in Pio V. Corpus and Barangay Mabini in San Fernando.