An alleged New People’s Army (NPA) member apprehended in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, Thursday, January 14, may have gone back to the area to look for a 2-month-old baby left behind by fleeing rebels earlier, Col. Michael Samson, 303rd Infantry Brigade acting commander, said today, January 15.
The Army and police apprehended Ruffa Sobelario Baynosa of Brgy San Jose, Toboso, at Hda. Ambulog, Brgy San Fernando, Talisay City, Negros Occidental, Thursday.
Fleeing rebels on Wednesday, January 13, had left behind the 2-month-old baby girl at the house of a certain Marilyn Dianton in Hda. Ambulog, and the child was turned over to the Talisay social welfare office, Samson said.
Samson said they are still establishing if Baynosa is the mother of the baby. Her relationship with the child may have to be established through a DNA test if she does not admit to being its mother, he said.
It is unfortunate that the mother of the baby chose the revolutionary movement over the welfare of her child, Samson said.
The arrest of Baynosa came after unidentified persons believed to be members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army escaped from government troops who responded to a report on the presence of an armed group in Hda. Ambulog, a 79th IB press release said.
The troops were monitoring the area when they noticed a suspicious person about to enter the house of Dianton.
The troops immediately held the individual for questioning and she was later identified as Baynosa, Samson said.
The Talisay police said there are three existing warrants of arrest against Baynosa, who is facing three criminal cases for murder and frustrated murder, issued by Ma. Rita Bascos Sarabia, presiding judge of Regional Trial Court Branch 58 in San Carlos City.
She was one of the 20 fully armed NPA rebels allegedly involved in an ambush of civilians onboard a utility truck at Purok Mabuhay III, Sitio Toril, Brgy Salamanca, Toboso, in July 2009 that resulted in the death of three civilians and the wounding of three others, the Army claimed.
Samson, who paid a courtesy call to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson at the Capitol, today said he is reiterating the call to fellow Negrenses in the NPA to return to folds of the law and avail of the programs being offered by the government for their reintegration.
He warned those who stay in the rebel movement that Army combat operations against them will be intensified, “it will be relentless”.
“We don’t want armed groups to roam around in our communities and intimidate the daily living of our people,” he said.
Samson said he assured the governor that the Army is committed to peace and development in Negros.
Lacson said the Army officials updated him on their operations in Negros.
The governor said he thanked the Army for keeping the province as peaceful as possible.
While they cannot let their guards down the situation is manageable, he said.*