KMP tags Sinas in alleged ‘planting of evidence’ vs red-tagged activists
MANILA, Philippines — The militant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) on Thursday accused law enforcers of planting evidence on red-tagged activists and farmers, saying this was the usual handiwork of cops in Negros Oriental under then Regional Director Debold Sinas, now chief of the Philippine National Police.
READ: Sinas denial
KMP issued the statement following the arrest recently of Amanda Echanis in Cagayan, together with her month-old baby.
Echanis is the daughter of slain National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) peace consultant and Anakpawis national chairperson Randall “Randy” Echanis. Cagayan police arrested the 32-year-old activist for possession of an M-16 assault rifle, a magazine, two hand grenades, and ammunition.
Aside from Echanis, lawmen also swooped down on the house of Anakpawis regional coordinator, Isabelo Adviento’s home, but they failed to find him there.
KMP Chairperson Danilo Ramos likened the turn of events to what happened in Negros last year.
“Kung ang mga magsasaka bihasa sa pagtatanim ng mais at gulay, ang AFP at PNP, ang security forces ay bihasa sa pagtatanim ng bala, bomba, granada,” said Ramos.
Article continues after this advertisement(If farmers are trained in planting corn and vegetables, the AFP and PNP, the security forces are trained in planting bullets, bombs, and grenades.)
Article continues after this advertisement“Director General Sinas, ganyan din ang ginawa mo sa mga magsasaka at sacada sa Negros, nung ikaw ay Regional Director ng PNP,” Ramos said. referring to the newly-installed PNP chief. “Sa panahon mo pinatay ang SAGAY-9 MASSACRE, Guihungan 6 at Negros Oriental 14.”
(Director Genreal Sinas, you did the same to the farmers and sacada in Negros, when you were Regional Director of the PNP, it was during your time, when the SAGAY-9 MASSACRE, Guihungan 6 and Negros Oriental 14 were killed.)
INQUIRER.net is still getting the side of Sinas on this.
Before his being top cop, Sinas served as Central Visayas’ police regional director from July 2018 to October 2019 before being promoted to head the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).
Sinas earlier said that they have evidence to prove that Echanis is linked to the underground communist movement.
Police meanwhile claimed Echanis is believed the finance officer of the West Front-Komiteng Probinsya ng Cagayan (KOMPROB) of Cagayan Valley Regional Party Committee of the NPA operating in Cagayan.
‘Illegal arrest’
KMP shared other progressive groups’ call on the immediate release of Amanda Echanis and her one-month-old baby and the political prisoners currently imprisoned by authorities.
Ramos reiterated the importance of fighting against red-tagging as it continues to put red-tagged activists and farmers in danger of being “illegally arrested” or, worse, killed.
“Kaya po napakahalaga, kailangan nating tumindig, ipaglaban ang ating karapatan, tutulan ang red tagging at terrorist labelling. Sama sama po nating tutulan at labanan ang anti-terror law. Kailangan po nating manindigan,” said Ramos.
(That is why it is so important that we stand up, fight for our rights, oppose red-tagging and terrorist labelling. Together we will oppose and fight the anti-terror law. We need to stand up against it.)
‘Same modus operandi’
Karapatan Secretary-General Cristina Palabay said that “of the 656 political prisoners right now, more than 400 of them arrested during President Duterte’s term are facing charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives.”
“Exactly the same case that we have right now of Amanda Echanis and her baby exactly the same case that was apparent in the case of Reina Mae Nasino and her colleagues who were in the said office dito po sa Tondo when it was raided,” Palabay said.
“Exactly the same modus operandi in the cases of Negros arrests last year,” she added.
Ramos demanded authorities involved to be investigated and held liable once political prisoners are proven innocent. — Zac Sarao, trainee
