Authorities arrested a couple whom the military accused of being members of a rebel group in barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue City.
Calixto Vistal, 36, was arrested based on an arrest warrant for murder. The warrant was issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Roderick Maxino based in Negros Oriental.
Vistal’s live-in partner Jimmylisa Badayos, 38, was arrested after a .38 revolver and a grenade were allegedly found in her shoulder bag.
The couple was detained at the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO).
Badayos said they had just gotten out of their workplace past 5 p.m. last Friday when a man, whom she later discovered as a police officer, accosted them.
Badayos said the policeman brought them to a van. She said the arresting team tried to transport them on separate vehicles but they declined.
Badayos said she was afraid that something bad might happen to them if they will be transported separately.
Badayos recounted an incident in the 80’s when police raided their house in barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City. She said they were brought to the police office.
Badayos said her father Jimmy was detained separately. She said police told them the next day that her father escaped. She said her father was nowhere to be found since then.
Badayos said police accused his father of being a rebel leader.
Badayos denied that she was bringing a firearm and a grenade during the arrest.
She said it was impossible for her to bring firearms since her bag is being checked at work.
Badayos also denied that they were rebels.
Central Command (Centcom) spokesperson Christopher Tampus said the operation was conducted by members of the City Intelligence Branch of the Cebu City police and 2nd Special Forces Battalion of Centcom.
Dennis Abarrientos, secretary general of Karapatan, earlier said the couple was abducted.
Abarrientos said Badayos is a member of the Samahan ng Desapericidos. He said Karapatan will be providing lawyers to the couple.
Tampus said the operation was legitimate.
“Their rights were duly respected,” he said.
Tampus said Vistal used the aliases of Isok and Cocoy when he was the commanding officer of Komiteng Rehiyon-Central Visayas .
Badayos, alias Jill, Cecil, and Mayet, is a former head of communication and technical bureau of the group, said Tampus.
Tampus said the couple has been transferring from one place to another after their group was neutralized.
Tampus said from 70, the couple’s group which is based in Negros Oriental is now down to 20 members./CORRESPONDENT CHITO ARAGON WITH CORRESPONDENT CARMEL MATUS