Tuesday, July 10, 2007 Reds admit killing Badong By Erwin Ambo S. Delilan
NOW, it can be told. Romeo “Badong” Agaton, a rebel returnee-turned-barangay councilor in Barangay Binagyuhan, Escalante City was gunned down by his former comrades in the mainstream New People’s Army (NPA).
In an e-mail sent to Sun.Star-Bacolod Monday night, NPA’s Roselyn “Jean” Pelle Command in northern Negros, said, Agaton’s murder was a show of force by the NPA against anyone who wanted to be mercenary of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Agaton was killed at infront of Vicente Gustilo Memorial District Hospital in Escalante City at around 8 a.m. on June 8.
“We only showed our power to implement our harsh judgment against anyone who wants to go against us,” the Roselyn Pelle Command said.
And, it also said, “The eight gunmen who killed Agaton were part of NPA hit team.”
The Roselyn Pelle Command also specified some of the reasons why it assassinated Agaton.
Among them, it said, Agaton had already became abusive and started to harass people who are against former mayor and now vice mayor Santiago Barcelona in Escalante City.
The group cited the cases of harassment made by Agaton in the housing project in Guiwanon / Kalipay and Old Poblacion, Escalante.
He also threatened people who are against the demolition of fishpens in Danao River, the rebels said.
Agaton was also accused of conducting raids in houses of those who were against Barcelona.
He also became a secret agent of the Intelligence Services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP), the Roselyn Pelle Command added.
Lately, together with his fellow rebel returnees, Agaton also threatened and harassed people at Sitio Tab-ang, Old Poblacion, Escalante to vacate the area so to give way to a housing project of some Chinese-Filipino businessmen who are friends of the former mayor, the Roselyn Pelle Command also said.
Likewise, he also threatened farmers in Barangay Malasibog in order to get their CLOAs (Certificate of Land Ownership Awards) the group also said.
According to Roselyn Pelle Command, Agaton had also killed two persons in Escalante City and was also tagged as “brain” behind the killing of Pedro Trabahador, a leader of the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW) in 2003.
He was also accused as man behind the murder of a certain Junior Sante in Escalante City. His alleged companion, Michael Pasencia, is now in jail, the NPA said.
Before the May 14 elections, the Roselyn Pelle Command said Agaton was also the one who shot the car of Ching Ballesteros in Sitio Cansimbog, Old Poblacion, also Escalante City.
The rebels also accused Agaton of arrogance against fish vendors in Escalante City.
