BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The slain New People’s Army (NPA) leader in Manapla, Negros Occidental was a “notorious extortionist and murderer”, according to the Philippine Army.
The death of Marilyn Badayos thwarted the insurgents’ plans of a major extortion in Negros Island, said Major General Benedict Arevalo, 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) commander.
According to Arevalo, Badayos and slain colleagues Ronilo Desabille, Rody Carbajosa and Rufilo Bocabal were the “brains of the extortion scheme” against big companies, construction firms and private individuals.
The money or resources were then used to fund their terror activities, according to Arevalo.
On the other hand, Brigadier General Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, believed Badayos had been trying to reform the north Negros front.
Badayos, a resident of Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City, was a former secretary of the south east front-Komite Rehiyonal Negros.
The Army said Badayos’ had criminal activities to include murder, attempted murder, attempted homicide, and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
However, Badayos managed to post bail in majority of the cases.
Badayos and her comrades were killed in last week’s encounter with combined elements of the 79th Infantry Battalion and the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office in Barangay San Pablo, Manapla.
Authorities recovered several firearms, ammunition and explosives, as well as propaganda materials and subversive documents./PN
