Ranking NPA official, pal nabbed in Negros

An official of the communist New People’s Army in southern Negros Oriental was slapped with additional charges after his arrest in Negros Oriental Wednesday night. Danilo Badayos and his “security aide" Ricky de la Cruz were charged for illegal possession of an explosive and for violation of the gun ban. Badayos and De la Cruz were arrested inside a mall in Dumaguete City, news site Visayan Daily Star reported Friday. De la Cruz was charged separately for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunitions. Assistant Prosecutor May Flor Duka, who conducted inquest proceedings, recommended the filing of formal charges against Badayos and De la Cruz. The charges stemmed from the finding of a hand grenade, a revolver and rounds of ammunition in the suspects’ bags after their arrest. Badayos, 46, a.k.a. Ka Willy/Ka Doro, was tagged as the secretary of the NPA’s Southeast Front of the Komiteng Rehiyon Sentral Bisayas based in Negros Oriental. He is also believed to have replaced Ramon Patriarca as deputy secretary of the KRSB after Patriarca’s arrest in Cebu some months ago. Badayos denied the allegations against him and De la Cruz, but said they are willing to answer the charges in court. He denied ownership of the hand grenade and the firearm and ammunitions, claiming they were planted by the police. He also claimed they were manhandled by the arresting officers. On the other hand, Lt. Col. Pio Diñoso, commander of the Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion, and provincial police director Senior Superintendent Rey Lyndon Lawas denied Badayos’ accusations. Badayos said he has been in Negros Oriental for over a year and resides in Calindagan in Dumaguete with his family. Diñoso said Badayos has been under close surveillance for several months now. He also said Badayos’ arrest is a big blow to the NPA. Badayos also faces charges of rebellion with several others believed to be members of the NPA in southern Negros Oriental. His arrest Wednesday stemmed from an arrest warrant issued by Bayawan City Judge Ananson Jayme last Jan. 14. The judge set the bail at P80,000. Provincial police director Senior Superintendent Rey Lyndon Lawas said they will wait for the judge to decide where both will be detained since Badayos is a high-profile suspect. Lawas and Diñoso also said they are looking into the possible involvement of Badayos in the recent murder of SPO3 Malaquias Amores in Zamboanguita town, Negros Oriental. An initial investigation showed Badayos and De la Cruz were at the Unitop department store at around 5 p.m. Wednesday when two members of the Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion saw them. — LBG, GMANews.TV