AN ALLEGED high-ranking female official of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and three of her companions were killed in a gun battle with government forces at Hacienda Builder, Barangay San Pablo in Manapla town, Negros Occidental early Thursday morning, September 30, 2021.
Marilyn Badayos, alias Monet, who is reportedly the former secretary of South East Front and currently the finance officer of the Northern Negros Front (NNF), was confirmed to have died following the encounter, the 79th Infantry Battalion (IB) said.
Aside from Badayos, also killed were Ronilo Desabille “alias Wowie” and Rody Carbajosa “alias Brod,” authorities also said.
The other rebel who also died has yet to be identified.
Military records showed that Desabille was allegedly a member of the NNF propaganda and education committee, while Carbajosa served as Finance Logistic Officer of the Sentro De Grabidad platoon of the group.
It was learned that Badayos, upon verification by Manapla Municipal Police Station, has an existing warrant of arrest for attempted murder.
The arrest warrant was issued by Executive Judge Amy Alabado Avellano of Regional Trial Court Branch 58 in San Carlos City.
It was not stated, however, if she was on bail.
The 79th IB reported that the gun battle between the rebels and government troops started around 2 a.m. and lasted for about an hour.
It added that the rebels later withdrew toward Hacienda Mimi in the nearby Victorias City.
The government troops found the casualties abandoned by their comrades.
Also recovered from the encounter site were a caliber .45 pistol, a caliber .38 revolver, two hand grenades, propaganda materials and other subversive documents.
The gunbattle occurred after the residents reported the sighting of the rebels in the area.
The operation was conducted by the joint forces of the 79th IB, 1st Negros Occidental Mobile Force Company, 605th Mobile Company, Regional Mobile Force Battalion 6, 64th Special Action Company, Philippine National Police (PNP) Special Action Force and Manapla Police Station.
The rebels are reportedly part of the remnants of the dismantled NNF Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros, Cebu, Bohol and Siquijor.
79th IB commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel J-jay Javines lauded the 79IB troops and PNP for another outstanding joint effort against the rebels in northern Negros.
He also expressed his gratitude to the residents for giving accurate and timely information that contributed to the success of the operation.
"This successful encounter has significantly shaken the weakening organization of the rebels in Negros. It's sad that other lives were lost, fighting for a senseless cause,” Javines said.
It could have been prevented if these rebels heed the call for them to surrender and return to the folds of the law, he said.
“Armed struggle is not the key, but a big hindrance for attaining peace and development,” Javines said, adding that “let us work together to build communities that are inhospitable to enemies of the state, free from fear, manipulation and exploitation by the rebels.”
For his part, 3rd Infantry "Spearhead" Division Commander Major General Benedict Arevalo said, “our Army in collaboration with the PNP, have thwarted one of the major extortion activity of NPA in Negros Island.”
The four rebels who died in an encounter were the "brains of extortion scheme" in the area, he added. (TDE)