Sinas distances self from Duterte’s red-tagging of left-wing groups

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Debold Sinas has distanced himself from the allegation made by President Rodrigo Duterte that some left-wing groups are serving as legal fronts for the Communist Party of the Philippines, the National Democratic Front, and its armed wing, the New People’s Army.

“‘Iyong sinasabi ng Presidente, si Presidente iyon. Maraming information siya [Duterte] na beyond our control or, beyond me,” said Sinas over ABS-CBN News Channel, reacting on Duterte’s tirades against Makabayan Bloc whom he identified as legal fronts of communist groups.

(The President has a lot of information that is beyond our control or beyond me.)

When asked if the groups tagged by the President as legal front organizations for the communist movement are being monitored by the PNP, Sinas said: “No comment.”

In a televised speech on Monday night, Duterte mentioned that the military was “very correct” when it tagged the Makabayan bloc of House of Representatives as legal fronts of National Democratic Front, New People’s Army, and the Communist Party of the Philippines.

The Makabayan Bloc is composed of six lawmakers from Bayan Muna, ACT Teachers Partylist, Gabriela Women’s Party, and Kabataan Partylist.

The Makabayan Bloc has already answered Duterte’s claims, saying that it was a sign of incompetence.

/MUF