Families of suspected NPA rally before CCPO

CEBU, Philippines - Close to 50 family members and relatives of the couple who were accused as high ranking officials of a rebel group in Visayas yesterday rallied before the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) where the suspects are detained.

Dennis Abbarrientos, secretary general of the Karapatan-Central Visayas, led the rally.

The group cried foul over the arrest of Calixto Vistal, 38, and his live-in-partner Jimmyliza Badayos, 36, accusing the military and the police of illegally arresting the two.

Calixto alias Isko and Cocoy is allegedly commanding officer/platoon energen of the Komiteng Rehiyon-Sentral Bisayas while Badayos, alias Jill, Cecil, and Mayet, is reportedly former head of communication and technical bureau of the group, which is based in Negros Oriental.

Calixto was arrested by virtue of a warrant of arrest for murder while Badayos was arrested after authorities recovered a gun and a grenade from her bag.

Operatives of the City Intelligence Branch of the CCPO and the 2nd Special Forces Battalion of Central Command conducted the joint operation late Friday afternoon in Barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue City.

The protesters, in yesterday’s rally, questioned the arrest.

Abbarrientos said the suspects were abducted then illegally detained, saying that there are people who can attest that the couple are not rebels.

Chief Insp. Romeo Santander, the CIB head, said they respect the statements of the group and the suspects’ family.

But Santander said that the arrest was legal as it was implemented with a search warrant issued by Judge Roderick Maxino of the Regional Trial Court in Negros Oriental.

Maj. Christopher Tampus, CentCom’s spokesperson, said that they also made sure that that suspects’ rights were preserved during the arrest.

Tampus said they will face any case the family may file against them.

Last Thursday, the couple just got out of work when police apprehended them.

Badayos claimed that the arresting officers did not inform them beforehand why they were arresting them, and further said that the operatives put the evidence inside her bag.  (FREEMAN)