Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas
23 June 2023
On June 22, 2023, representatives from the Philippine Congress, various organizations including church people, farmers, women, Indigenous Peoples, and children’s rights defenders, among others, came together to conduct a National Solidarity Mission (NSM) in Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan, City.
The NSM was constituted after sectoral organizations from different parts of the country expressed deep concern over the Fausto Massacre that took place on June 14, 2023 in Sitio Calingking, Bgy. Buenavista, killing Billy Sabanal Fausto (52), Emelda Fausto (51), and their children, Ben (14 yo), Raben (11 yo). Billy is a member of the Baclayan Bito Cabagal Farmers and Farm Workers Association (BABICAFA) and the Iglesia Filipina Independiente.
This is an initial and partial presentation of information and narratives that the NSM gathered from various sources on the ground. This report back strictly observes informant anonymity for the safety and security of communities and organizations in the area.
Major findings of the NSM:
We have observed a similar pattern in the killings of the Fausto family and the Crispin Tingal murder, which involved the frustrated killing of his family in their home in Sitio Dangalon, Brgy. Hilamonan.
The Crispin Tingal murder took place on May 3, 2023. Crispin “Padon” Tingal was a member of the DAFA and worked for the same association as caretaker of its food house and fish pond. He was also a farmer who was awarded a CLOA in 2018. The Tingal family is also a 4Ps beneficiary.
Both the Fausto and Tingal families experienced military harassment previous to the killings.
On March 22, 2022 members of the Fausto family were subjected to physical and mental torture, grave coercion, and illegal searches. Particularly, Emelda Fausto was subjected to intense interrogation and harassment by 12 individuals identified as soldiers. The same men ransacked their homes, killed their chickens, and stole the amount of Php 5,000. Later that day, soldiers subjected Billie Fausto to interrogation and forced him to bring the group to a vacant hut 500 meters away from his house. Billie was tortured as he was sat down, tied up with a belt around his neck, and coerced to confess his affiliation with the New People’s Army. He was subsequently brought home only to be held captive until around 7PM and was eventually brought to a military detachment in Bgy. Hilamonan, Kabankalan City where he was subjected to torture. Another incident took place on May 4, 2023, in which their house was ransacked. Fausto family members found muddy footprints on the door and their belongings scattered all over the house.
Similarly, the Tingal family endured forcible entry, illegal search, and interrogation by the military on December 26, 2022 along with seven other households in the area. They were told by the military officers about a “military asset” who reported NPA presence in Sitio Dangalon. Our informants deny such allegations. A blotter was filed at the barangay soon after the incident. Over four months later, May 3, 2023, Tingal was murdered on his way home and presented as a member of the NPA. He was coming home from a catfish training seminar sponsored by the LGU. Documentation of the seminar includes photos of Tingal along with other seminar participants and Mayor Tongson, a certification of Tingal’s attendance, and proof of attendance. At the time of his killing, he was rushing to the food house to secure the association’s resources from being washed out by the heavy rains. Separate witnesses accounted that Tingal was in the custody of the military before the gunshots were heard. The Tingal household was strafed while members of the family were outside by the creek. Meanwhile, one of his children who was inside the house dodged the bullets and was able to flee. Clearly, members of the Tingal family were the target of this attack.
These two cases involving extrajudicial killings indicate that the Fausto case is neither an isolated nor an exceptional case. 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.
During our mission, other members of the community shared their experiences of similar human rights violations and International Humanitarian Law:
– at least three incidents of frustrated killing
– three incidents of illegal arrest
– a case of a missing person
– numerous reports of threats, harassment, 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
We, participants to the National Solidarity Mission call for an end to relentless attacks on farming communities not only in Himamaylan and Kabankalan but in the whole Negros Island.
We call on our fellow human rights groups and the children’s groups to condemn the killings and demand investigation and justice.
We call on the Commission on Human Rights, the Philippine Congress, and the Philippine Senate to conduct an impartial investigation of these cases in Negros.
We call on the ILO to investigate the Fausto massacre and Tingal incident as a violation of freedom of association.
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. ###
