MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) insisted that the arrest of the daughter of slain National Democratic Front (NDF) consultant Randy Echanis for illegal firearms and explosives is legal.
In a television interview on Thursday, PNP chief Gen. Debold Sinas said the evidence against Amanda Echanis was not planted since she has been part of the New People’s Army (NPA).
“‘Yung sinabi nila na planting (of evidence) hindi po totoo ‘yun kasi papaano ka mag-plant ng mga baril na ‘to kasi mga bago, mga high-caliber. Mahirap po mag-plant noon. Bahay n’ya yun eh,” Sinas said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel.
“Hindi basta-basta pinamalita dahil kumukuha pa kami ng ebidensya tungkol d’yan at hindi totoong wala siya sa underground. Meron po ‘yan,” the newly-appointed PNP chief added.
“Ang problema lang kasi ‘yung mga report namin walang gustong [mag] come up at mag-testify para ma-file-an ng kaso kaya nung natiktikan na may mga baril sila sa bahay, in-apply-an ng search warrant,” he further said.
Sinas also maintained that it was Echanis who insisted to bring her baby to the police station after she was arrested in an operation in Baggao, Cagayan on Wednesday morning.
“She’s the one who wanted to bring along her child. She insisted on bringing him there. That’s why the police allowed her to do so, and we asked the DSWD to assist her,” Sinas said.
“There were social workers there to assist Amanda and her one-month-old baby,” he added.
The operation yielded an M16 ARIS Colt 5.56mm assault rifle with SN 4951346; a long plastic magazine for an M16 rifle; a long steel magazine for M16 Rifle; 20 pieces of live ammunition for M16 rifle and two hand grenades.
Amanda, who is the finance officer of the West Front of the Communist Party of the Philippines’ regional committee operating in Cagayan, is currently detained at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group regional office in the province./PN
