PNP chief Gen. Debold Sinas. (Photo from PNP PIO)
MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Debold Sinas on Thursday bared that they have evidence to prove that Amanda Echanis, the daughter of slain National Democratic Front of the Philippines peace consultant Randall Echanis is linked to the communist movement.
Amanda was arrested after police served a search warrant at her residence in Barangay Carupian in Baggao, Cagayan, where several firearms and explosives were seized before dawn Wednesday.
“Ang totooo niyan, nasa underground si Amanda. Alam mo yan [..] Hindi po totoo na wala iyan [Amanda] sa underground [communist movement]. Ang asawa niya ay leader ng armado sa NPA [New People’s Army] ng Cagayan Valley. At siya po kaya may armas iyan, maski tanungin mo,” Sinas said in an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel, reacting on Anakpawis’ claims that pieces of evidence were planted when Amanda was arrested for possesion of illegal explosives, ammunition and firearms.
(Amanda is with the underground communist movement. It is not true that she is not a member of the underground. Her husband is a leader of the NPA at Cagayan Valley. That is why has firearms, even if you ask them.)
“Hindi iyan basta basta binabalita. Kumuha pa kami ng ebidensya tungkol diyan at hindi totoo na wala po siya sa underground. Ang problema lang iyong report namin walang gustong mag-testify para ma-filean ng kaso. So kaya nga noong may baril na iniwan sa bahay, kaya nag-apply ng search warrant,” the PNP chief added.
(We don’t just report these things. We gather evidence about this and it is true that she is in the underground movement. The problem is no one is willing to testify for us to be able to file a case. So when firearms were stored in her home, we applied for a search warrant.)
(Photo courtesy of Cagayan police)
Police said Amanda is a suspected finance officer of the West Front-Komiteng Probinsya ng Cagayan (KOMPROB) of Cagayan Valley Regional Party Committee of the New People’s Army operating in Cagayan.